Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Saturday, 19 March 2016

Floors of medieval churches in Rome

After the end of the Roman Empire, Rome often continued to decorate the floors with beautiful mosaics. Many precious marbles were often found among the ruins of ancient Rome.
In the Middle Ages, however, there were several stages. In later times the workshops of Cosmati were particularly appreciated.
In an initial period craftsmen create simple floor mosaics, then some important workshops built more complex mosaics.
The artistic workshops of Cosmati and Vassalletto families also work in different towns around Rome.

floor in the basilica of Santi Cosma e Damiano -photo L.B.


floor in San Crisogono church-photo a.p.

floor in Basilica of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls-photo a.p.

To read more:
Cosmati and Vassalletto  (italian)
Floors in Middles Ages    (italian)
Mosaics in Rome              (english)

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view of the floor in Santa Maria in Cosmedin 

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Monday, 14 March 2016

Florence, antique wooden sculptures

In Florence at the Uffizi Museum from 22 March to 18 August 2016 there will be an exhibition on the colored wooden sculpture of the  fifteenth century.


exibition in Florence: Fece di scoltura di legname e colori
Scultura del quattrocento in legno dipinto a Firenze


At the event it will be exhibited over 40 sculptures by different artists. In the Renaissance period also important sculptors realized these works of art. Often the sculptures were devotional.

a wooden angel exhibited in Florence
photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini-Civita

At the end of the fifteenth century some great art workshops, stimulated by the demands of the market, specialized in the realization of crucifixes in churches, convents and private homes.
In this sculptural field were many active: the brothers Giuliano and Benedetto da Maiano, the Sangallo, the Del Tasso and Baccio da Montelupo.
At that time, other artists, however, considered important only marble sculptures. In fact, in Florence were very relevant examples of marble sculptures.

Uffizi museum and other old buldings in Florence

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Friday, 11 March 2016

Show Macchiaioli painting in Rome

The Macchiaioli were a group of painters active in Tuscany in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Now in Rome the exhibition "The Macchiaioli. The Collections Revealed " opens at the Chiostro del Bramante from 16 March to 4 September 2016.


The tourists and art lovers can see more than 110 paintings from various collections.
This exhibition includes nine sections based on the provenance of works of art.
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List of sections:
Section I – Cristiano Banti's "private gallery". The Macchiaioli in the mirror
Section II - Diego Martelli, between the Macchiaioli and the Impressionists: a testimony of art and life
Section III – The Rinaldo Carnielo Collection
Section IV – An entrepreneur in love with beauty: the Edoardo Bruno Collection
Section V – The Sforni House: the treasure trove of a Florentine patron of the arts
Section VI – Mario Galli, “the most perceptive and refined connoisseur of the Macchiaioli
Section VII – Enrico Checcucci collection
Section VIII – Not only Macchiaioli, the Camillo Giussani Collection
Section IX – Remembering Mario Borgiotti, champion of the Macchiaioli

Visitors will see paintings by Giovanni Fattori, Telemaco Signorini, Federico Zandomeneghi, Giuseppe De Nittis, Oscar Ghiglia, Cristiano Banti etc.


paint by Silvestro Lega (visita in villa)-copyright

paint by Telemaco Signorini (ponte vecchio a Firenze)-copyright

paint by Oscar Ghiglia ( bambina con fiocco rosso)-copyright


paint by Vincenzo Cabianca (la filatrice)-copyright-

ALL IMAGES BY ARTHEMISIA GROUP
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Chiostro Bramante in Rome-photo ap

to read more about the places: Raphael and Bramante in Rome

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Wednesday, 9 March 2016

A painting by Caravaggio in Monza

From March 16th to April 17th, 2016 visitors to the Royal Palace in Monza, will also see a beautiful painting by Caravaggio.
It is the painting "The Flagellation of Christ" which is preserved in Naples.




Obviously in Monza there are so many other interesting things to see: the cathedral and the museum with many exhibits of the Lombard period, the villa of kings and the beautiful park etc.
At the center of Monza tourists also come traveling with one of the frequent trains departing from two stations of Milan. To see the Royal Palace you need to take a taxi or a city bus.

Cathedral entrance-photo ap



park of Royal Palace-photo ap



Arengario in historic centre-old photo

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Sunday, 7 February 2016

Perugia, art museum Marabottini

On the initiative of a bank foundation in Perugia from December 2015, visitors can see an important collection of works of art.


The collection of about 700 paintings and other works was created by Alessandro Marobottini, university professor of art history.
The exhibition is like that of a house museum. Most important is the graphic art collection.
The new museum is located in Baldeschi building in central Corso Vannucci.


the center of Perugia, photo ap


corso Vannucci 

BALDESCHI PALACE


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Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Byzantine art in eastern Sicily

In a period of the Middle Ages, in eastern Sicily, Byzantine art has left some evidence. In some areas the monks had many relationships with Eastern Christians.
After the Arab domination had been a bit 'of Byzantine culture. The Norman kings to decorate their beautiful churches asked often the collaboration of many artists of the Byzantine school.

We publish some interesting photos.

fresco in Syracuse, crypt San Marziano 
photo by Susanna Valpreda

fresco of St. Barbara in Pantalica necropolis (read wikipedia)
photo by Susanna Valpreda



On these topics a book written in Italian is also acquirable on Amazon

Susanna Valpreda: Sikelia-In Sicilia orientale nel periodo bizantino
Read more

Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Tranquillo Cremona and other bohemian italian artists

Scapigliatura is the name of an artistic movement which developed in Italy after 1870. Now in Pavia they are organizing an exhibition mainly devoted to the painter Tranquillo Cremona and others.


a picture of the painter-photo press office ViDi

This exhibition will be open during the period 26 February to 5 June 2016 in Pavia, in the Stables of the Visconti Castle.




In the castle, tourists can also see the works of Daniel Ranzoni and Luigi Conconi.
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For those who have never been to Pavia it is certainly an opportunity to visit many important monuments of Pavia and also the famous Certosa ( Charterhouse). The old and beautiful monastery is about 8 km from the city.
Even the Visconti castle has an interesting structure.

the Visconti castle 



the city and the park- Photos by Salento81 from wikipedia




Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Portelli, exhibition at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence

From 30 December 2015 to 30 April 2016 proposed a new art exhibition in Florence.




The exhibition is dedicated to the painter Carlo Portelli that in the sixteenth century in Florence attended some important art workshops (with Vasari etc).
Tourists will see around 50 works by the artist who at the time was already known for some eccentricity.
Portelli in 1566 with the painting "Immacolata Concezione" shocked many people for the nudity of Eve. However, the artist often had important assignments.
Several paintings by Carlo Portelli, as well as in museums, are also in Florentine churches

details of the painting Martirio di San Romolo in the 
church Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi (photo Sailko/wikipedia)

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Friday, 4 December 2015

Lorenzetti, restoration of paintings in Siena

Some paintings by Ambrogio Lorenzetti are under restoration in Siena (Santa Maria della Scala).



Several paintings currently in villages around Siena or in the city will be transported in one place to receive treatment and during the work of the restorers, tourists will still be able to admire the artworks. At the end of the restoration planned in the year 2017, there will be a major exhibition about the artist.
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Ambrogio Lorenzetti (or Ambruogio Laurati) (c. 1290 –  1348) was an original painter of the Sienese school. The artist is well known because he painted the Allegory of Good and Bad Government a big fresco in the a large fresco in the most important Senese building.

Monday, 26 October 2015

Mattia Preti, a painter in Rome after the time of Caravaggio.

In Rome at the Galleria Corsini in Trastevere, from 28 October 2015 to 18 January 2016, interested persons can admire numerous paintings by Mattia Preti.


The exhibition is organized to commemorate the great artist born in Calabria in 1613 and died in Malta in 1699.
Mattia Preti came to Rome in 1630, twenty years after the death of Caravaggio and during his long stay in Rome he knew the painting of Caravaggio, Guercino, Giovanni Lanfranco and others.
We publish two of the paintings in the exhibition in Rome.

Virgilio, photo by Civita press

Rinaldo and Armida, photo by Civita press

Mattia Preti during the Roman residence also painted some frescoes in a couple of churches.

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Wednesday, 1 July 2015

The Medici villa at Poggio a Caiano and the old kitchens

The beautiful villa- not far from Prato and Florence- was commissioned by Lorenzo de 'Medici  around the year 1480.

the architect of the villa was Giuliano da Sangallo
photo alpy 2012

The villa's gardens are very beautiful and inside the building are preserved several works of art.
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The villa can be visited also the small theater that was built by Marguerite Louise d'Orléans (the wife of a duke of Tuscany) and the apartment of Bianca Cappello, who died here in 1587.
In the large hall are visible frescoes by Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo, Franciabigio, Alessandro Allori etc.
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The villa was also used by the King of Italy, then some of the furniture and decorations are the nineteenth century.
Other villas belonged to the historic Medici family are visited by tourists. Also Villa of Petraia is interesting.
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From July 4 to October 25, 2015, visitors can extend their tour by visiting the old kitchen of the villa and a special exhibition. To access some old rooms need to book.
The exhibition shows several ancient paintings of kitchens, cooks and food. Some works of art come from important museums or private collections.


ancient fireplace kitchen-photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini-Civita

painting of Giacomo Ceruti said Pitocchetto - painted in the fifth decade
 of the eighteenth century-photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini-Civita

The private kitchens of the nobles were largely designed and built between 1614 and 1619 during the reign of Cosimo II de 'Medici.
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If you choose a hotel in Prato can see also the beautiful cathedral and many beautiful monuments.

Prato cathedral -photo ap

frescos in Prato, photo s.b


MUSEUM PRATO

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Thursday, 18 June 2015

Contemporary art in Brianza

Brianza is an area at the foot of the Alps, in the North-West of Lombardy.  The Brianza is also famous for several beautiful villas built by prestigious people who in time also bought works of art.
From June 28 to October 4, 2015 tourists will see many of these collections of contemporary art.


Points of the exhibition are: Villa Filippini, Palazzo Arese Borromeo, Villa Cusani Traversi Tittoni, Villa Brivio, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lissone.

Palazzo Arese Borromeo in Cesano Maderno, photo by wikimedia (Marcuscalabresus)

Villa Cusani, Traversi, Tittoni in Desio

In different places will be exhibited art works of Lucio Fontana, Piero Manzoni, Agostino Bonalumi, Enrico Castellani, Giuseppe Uncini, Roberto Crippa  and others.
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Many visitors should find the hotel also in the beautiful city of Monza.

the center of Monza -photo ap
in the blog read also : cathedral of Monza 
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Thursday, 11 June 2015

Paintings by Filippino Lippi in San Gimignano

At the museums of San Gimignano (Siena) will soon be proposed for public viewing works by Filippino Lippi.
The small but interesting exhibition is scheduled from June 13 to November 1, 2015. For the occasion people will see the two round paintings of 1483 and 1484, some drawings, some ancient manuscripts and Renaissance frames.
Important part of the exhibition are two paintings depicting the one the Angel of the Annunciation, the other the Annunziata. Just as it had been requested in 1482 by the Priors and Captains for the Town Hall of San Gimignano.


exhibition poster

Virgin Annunciate, 1483-84. San Gimignano (photo by Civita)

Studies for the figure of a saint kneeling with a crosier, and for a standing figure with 
a turban- Metal needle, with lead white highlights on grey prepared paper (photo by Civita)

old letter: the Priors and Captains of the Guelph Party earmark an additional sum of thirty lire for the Annunciation  (photo by Civita)
Text translation: for the effigy of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin to adorn the Hall of Hearings. Whereas it has been previously deliberated that an effigy of the Annunciation shall be painted in the Hall of Hearings of this Palazzo as a mark of honour for the community and in celebration of the most glorious Virgin Mary, the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and whereas in that connection nothing has yet been done, in accordance with the proposal of Niccolò di Agostino Abbracciabeni, one of the Priors, it is hereby established that the present Priors and Captains cause to be painted in the Hall of Hearings the effigy of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary on two square or round panels, whichever they consider to be most fitting, for the production of which no more must be spent than the 50 lire already set aside in addition to 30 lire which the present chamberlain will set aside with monies to be taken from the profits accruing from said municipality's vineyards

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the old town hall of San Gimignano (photo Geobia/wiki)
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HISTORY: in the valley adjacent to San Gimignano in ancient times there were Etruscan settlements. Some legends say that around 63 BC two young Romans built two castles. However the town of San Gimignano is only mentioned in a document of 929. In later times the area was crossed by the Via Francigena. San Gimignano had an appreciable population around the end of the twelfth century.

Valdelsa: landscape of the hills around the river Elsa


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