A Sphere Within a Sphere, a photo from Vatican City, Lazio

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

I don't remember ever having seen this on TE so it was a surprise when I came across it in the garden of the Vatican Museum.

Please look at it on the Beta site here . You may find it even more revealing!

The sculpture is called a 'Sphere Within a Sphere' by Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro. He is known to construct enormous spheres with layers of complexities. This one, of his monumental orbs, stands tall as the centerpiece of the Courtyard of the Pinecone at the Vatican Museum. The structure is a bronze statue that appears golden as the sun shines down on it. It is 4 meters (a little over 13 feet) in diameter.

The Milan-based artist began his series of spheres in the 60’s with Sphere no. 1 and has continued designing the globe-like pieces, each depicting a different map of destruction. Each tremendous ball is fractured, revealing an intricate interior that unveils yet another cracking orb. The design of the internal layers seem to mimicking the gears of a clock or the inner workings of a grand piano, making it appear very complicated.

Because of the sculptural installation’s round shape, it also echoes the form of Earth. It isn’t absolutely clear what the artist’s intentions are, but it gives off the impression that it is reflecting the complexity of our world and how easily it can be torn apart. - My Modern Met

I had no trouble including figures with the sculpture as it was like a magnet to tourists! I will show another view of it, a little further away, as a workshop.

Thank you for your interest, Bev :-)

papagolf21, snunney, ikeharel, tyro, jhm, Cricri, ChrisJ, Fis2, holmertz, pajaran, dale54, alvaraalto, alvaraalto, macjake, pierrefonds, jean113, CLODO, PaulVDV, maloutim, cornejo, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139236) 2018-10-26 2:19

Hi Bev,in effect i don't remember me too a pic of this sphere on TE,so your post is very useful. Pomodoro is one of the mos famous modern scultpors of my country. I'm not a fan of modern art but this is truly great. And an excellent opportunity to take good reflections too,well done! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

papagolf21 (152607) 2018-10-26 2:30

Bonjour, chиre Bev,
En effet, il faut avoir de l'imagination (fertile de prйfйrence) pour apprйcier pleinement cette sculpture;
Il n'en demeure pas moins que celle-ci ne manque pas d'une beautй particuliиre (elle a le mйrite de faire travailler les neurones).
Amitiйs.
Philippe

snunney (130967) 2018-10-26 2:33

Hello Bev,
A fascinating artwork receiving due attention from these perhaps bemused visitors to the museum. The symmetrical framing works well. Good rendering of the colours and reflections.

Porteplume (4036) 2018-10-26 3:06

Good morning dear Beverley! :)

This a very sharp photo of an intriguing Art work. It looks huge and bright but you could entirely frame it and you did well... Thank you for the note, I first thought it was the Earth but in fact the Spheres are a sйrie abstract objects.
Thank you for visiting Norway this morning, I started a Street Art Theme.

Hugs,
Viviane

ikeharel (113319) 2018-10-26 3:15

The world looks odd this way...
I do not remember seeing this in Roma and nor did see it on TE posts - so it must be a new placement in the Vatican yards, Beverley.
Anyway, it looks to atract visitors and truely appear shining and well posted on your pictures, the WS is marvelous wider scope.
My best regards,
Ike

tyro (30513) 2018-10-26 3:44

Hello Bev,

At first I thought this might have been a joke - who on Earth would be called Arnold Tomato? - but, no, there is indeed an artist Arnaldo Pomodoro and he's still alive at the age of 92. Also, a little research reveals that there are several (at least a dozen) variations (of slightly different form and size) of this particular sculpture scattered around the globe, the nearest one to us being at Trinity College, Dublin.

When I viewed your two photographs, I thought this might simply have been a reflective sphere and I was looking (unsuccessfully!) to catch a glimpse of the photographer on the bronze ball. Then I realised that parts of the "skin" of the sphere were cut away to reveal some sort of mechanical workings inside it. Perhaps a more appropriate name for this sculpture might have been something like "Clockwork Orange"?

Anyway, you have shown us two delightful photographs of this strange sculpture, each one very well composed with lovely light and colours and each enhanced by the presence of so many colourfully dressed visitors and the fine background architecture.

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

jhm (211736) 2018-10-26 4:37

Hello Bev,

No never seen on TE but very well photographed.
The couple beside the sculpture are excellent for the scale.
We get a fantastic reflection on the sculpture.
Wonderful picture and nice natural colours.
Very well done, TFS.

Kindest regards,
John.

Silvio1953 (221563) 2018-10-26 4:46

Ciao cara Bev , great view of fantastic and original artwork, beautiful reflections, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

BennyV (34748) 2018-10-26 4:49

Hello Bev

Great reflections on the sphere. I rmemeber seeing similar artwork elsewhere, not too sure whether I've seen this one before, don't think so. Thanks for showing it.

Benny

ChrisJ (171822) 2018-10-26 5:11

Hi Bev

There is a separate country folder on TE for Vatican City although it's such an integral part of Rome you would hardly notice the difference. There are no border controls between the 2 that I saw. An unusual sculpture of the egg like sphere inside its larger cousin. Tfs!

Cricri (176) 2018-10-26 5:14

Hi Beverley
Bonne prise rapprocher pour bien apprйcier les dйtails , fantastique de cette sculpture moderne, belle lumiиre, superbe prйsentation
Amitiйs
cricri

Fis2 (170717) 2018-10-26 6:18

Witaj Bev!
A very interesting sculpture.
A good object for photographing, an interesting effect.
Good framing, colors and sharpness.
I like it.
Well done.
Nice afternoon.
Krzysztof

Nicou (193806) 2018-10-26 6:30

Hello

Avec les personnes а gauche quelle iamge quelle boule et reflet fantastique vue et ce dessin ce dйcoupage sur la boule quel rendu et cpatage trиs bien vue superbe.
Bravo et belle soirйe
Nicou

holmertz (102672) 2018-10-26 7:28

Hello bev,
I wasn't aware of Mr. Tomato, but this is a very interesting sculpture of the kind that leaves much to the viewer's own imagination, which I like. A sculpture of this size and shape, and with such strange cracks, patterns and reflections, will leave no-one indifferent, which is a great advantage for those who like to include people in their photos. I could watch this a long time and try to take photos from every possible angle. The WS is an excellent complement to this superb upload.
Kind regards.
Gert

dale54 (17768) 2018-10-26 8:10

hello beverley and good evening...excellent capture..very interesting to look at,plus this reflection is spectacular!tfs dale

rychem (72187) 2018-10-26 8:36

I have never seen this sculpture, the first association is of course the globe, I like this art work very much, great photo, thanks for sharing
regards Ryszard

alvaraalto (42804) 2018-10-26 9:02

Hello Bev,
I checked it out for, but my memory was right, I have seen a smaller version of this sculpture this summer in the sculpture garden of the Hirschhorn Museum in Washington DC. That version is called "Sphere nr. 6" and has been in the possession of the museum since 1966. The image is smaller and not exactly the same, but also with a sphere in a sphere. Probably I'll post a few pictures of it in my travelogue of our trip through Canada and the USA this summer. But first I have to finish Iceland.
Beautiful background has this Italian version and you photographed it beautifully.
Have a good weekend, groet Rob

macjake (98454) 2018-10-26 10:27

Hi Bev
I have never seen this before! I was in Rome a few years ago, not that long but I didn't see it - i wonder when it was placed here. Interesting to see what the sphere is sitting on as well. it sort of has the same reflective properties as the famous Bean in Chicago. This sphere however is much more thought provoking as you mentioned in your note. this is A+ for TE, so glad you posted it. awesome. cheers
Craig

GyurMaster (24818) 2018-10-26 11:05

Dear Beverley,

I have memories of this sculpture, but back then I wasn't involved in photography, so I don't have a picture. Lucky me, you went there and photographed. :)
I particularly like the reflections on its surface.

Have a nice WE!
Gy.

Tue (92328) 2018-10-26 11:10

Hello Beverley,
I don't remember seeing this work of art (but I only visited the Vatican Museum 16 years ago, not this year, so maybe it wasn't there yet then). I do remember seeing a similar work of art elsewhere and was about to write that my dad can probably tell where, when I noticed that he has already written about it in his critique. It was in DC obviously. :-) Anyway, a great photo of this great work of art, the people nicely indicate its size and the reflections of the surrounding museum (I do remember this courtyard of the museum) are amazing. Very well done.
Lars

pierrefonds (114422) 2018-10-26 12:20

Hi Berverley,

I remember seeing that sphere during my visit to the Vatican on March 23, 2018. The point of view is showing the details of the sphere and of the reflections. The light is giving good colors rendering. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jean113 (27853) 2018-10-26 13:51

Hello Beverley, a good choice for your main post; I like the way that the sphere almost fills the frame but with just enough space for the people, so that we get a good idea of the scale.
I remember taking some shots of this too when visiting the Vatican.
It really is an amazing piece.
The reflection of the buildings opposite add to the scene.
Regards Jean.

mkamionka (74375) 2018-10-27 1:48

Hi Bev,
great presentation of this famous structure! I am not sure if you know that there is one of them also on the grounds of the Trinity College in Dublin where I have worked. Smaller but the same.
Great light and reflections in it. People next to it allow us to appreciate the scale of it.
Excellent reportage!!
M

CLODO (45116) 2018-10-28 0:09

Hi Bev

the 2 persons seem dubitative in front of these giant representation of a new world reflecting the actual one.
Cheers
CLODO

PaulVDV (62886) 2018-10-28 5:52

Hello Beverley,
I tried to find a world map in the artwork ... but that isn't it.
Very beautiful with the strong contrast between the darker and the golden parts.
Naturally, this work attracts everyone's attention.
Beautiful presentations with the main picture as the most attractive.
Best regards, Paul

carlo62 (81265) 2018-10-28 15:01

Ciao Bev
due belle foto che ci mostrano questa bella opera di Pomodoro, il riflesso sulla sfera и molto bello e anche le persone che osservano completano la composizione.
Ti mostro un'altra sua opera nel ws, fatta a Pisa.
Saluti
Carlo

[workshop] [compare]

cornejo (61504) 2018-11-04 3:26

Hello Bev, very good photograph of this interesting sculpture, very well captured in this interesting image, with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Great and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.

Good afternoon and happy start of the week.
Warm greetings from the south of Spain.
Angel.

jmdias (115128) 2018-11-21 8:55

bev

I liked the angle you choose, using the reflections in golden to enhance these cracks in the sphere. very beautiful view.

take care

jorge

COSTANTINO (116452) 2021-02-20 23:12

Hello dear Beverley and have
a nice Sunday
original version
worthseeing view shining
under the sun s light
well done
regards
Costantino