In Museo San Marco there is an ancillary exhibit, placing some smaller, lighter colored Rothkos next to their Fra Angelico frescoes. Those rooms bowled me over, as for one thing they show how much Rothko was a religious painter at heart.
I also was struck by the high proportion of Chinese visitors at this show, even though they are not especially numerous in Florence right now.
The main Rothko show, at Palazzo Strozzi, had an opening room showing Rothkos tied to Renaissance (!) art, mostly with works from early Rothko. The rest of the exhibit had perfect lighting and was the best Rothko display I have seen.
Ken Griffin has very good taste in Rothko. One of his works is here.
Visiting Florence in August is less unbearable than I was expecting. So many other places have become crowded that the situation here does not phase me. Plus the heat is keeping many away? At dinnertime, there is no crush to get into the restaurants.
Moving on shortly, just here for one day!
