For me, these miniatures are not cute and do not excite the hormone that makes me wish to care for them and nurture them. But, the mind is stirred by the history of the building over a long period arouses curiousity. Why the changes? What architectural innovations enabled the changes? How did the purposes of the building change? How did the building and its occupants relate to the city around them? The detail amazes too but all the moreso because one goes from seeing the buildings in total to some little thing the eye catches and then back again to the "whole" while at the same time, standing in the interior of the very building depicted while at the same time one tries to fix the place where one is standing while bearing in mind the immensity of the structure one encountered on the way to the exhibit and its place in Rome in the here and now. A pleasant discombobulation.
What! Not cute? But okay, I'll accept that since you appreciate the history. ;-) Answering all your questions would require falling down a very deep research rabbit hole—and worth every hour spent, I'm sure.
Of course you did! Remember going to the store at the top the hill at the lake and buying every set of china animals they had? Sara and I use to make the troll houses using boxes of junk her mother bought at auction—did you do that with us?
You have a much better memory than I do! I don't recall where I got the china animals. I don't recall making the troll houses either. But now I'm going to go upstairs and look at my miniature animal collection to see if I can get a dopamine hit! :)
For me, these miniatures are not cute and do not excite the hormone that makes me wish to care for them and nurture them. But, the mind is stirred by the history of the building over a long period arouses curiousity. Why the changes? What architectural innovations enabled the changes? How did the purposes of the building change? How did the building and its occupants relate to the city around them? The detail amazes too but all the moreso because one goes from seeing the buildings in total to some little thing the eye catches and then back again to the "whole" while at the same time, standing in the interior of the very building depicted while at the same time one tries to fix the place where one is standing while bearing in mind the immensity of the structure one encountered on the way to the exhibit and its place in Rome in the here and now. A pleasant discombobulation.
What! Not cute? But okay, I'll accept that since you appreciate the history. ;-) Answering all your questions would require falling down a very deep research rabbit hole—and worth every hour spent, I'm sure.
That sounds like work.... I've sworn off!
Wise man. Bravo!
I feel the same way when visiting the room-sized models of Rome in the museum in EUR!
Oooooo, I've not been there! Must go!
Apparently, you had quite an influence on me as a kid, cousin- I collected miniature bone china animals and trolls too :)
Of course you did! Remember going to the store at the top the hill at the lake and buying every set of china animals they had? Sara and I use to make the troll houses using boxes of junk her mother bought at auction—did you do that with us?
You have a much better memory than I do! I don't recall where I got the china animals. I don't recall making the troll houses either. But now I'm going to go upstairs and look at my miniature animal collection to see if I can get a dopamine hit! :)
Look for me too! I finally parted with mine when I moved here, and I regret it.
Interesting article. Thanks Cheryl for sharing your unique insight into the world of miniatures as well as this particular of Rome’s history.
Thanks for reading! I'm always glad to hear your comments.