Wow, how time flies! It has been a while since I've updated my blog, sorry for that, I guess I have been kind of busy.... doing a little bit of traveling. So, here's a new post from my recent travels and also a fresh new updated look for my blog, enjoy!
Last month I had the opportunity to attend an art workshop in Tuscany given by no other than Andrew Lattimore, my art teacher. Our home base for the time was in the lovely town of Fiesole, right outside the beautiful city of Florence. We stayed at Pensione Bencistà, a wonderful family-run villa with the most spectacular views of Florence.
We painted almost every day, except for a couple of days when we traveled to Florence to study and learn, but most of all to enjoy the extraordinary wealth of art and architecture this city has to offer. First on the agenda Galleria dell'Accademia, home of Michelangelo's David and many other masterpieces. We also visited Galleria Palatina, located at the Pitti Palace, with its impressive collection by the great masters of the Renaissance, to include one of the greatest, Caravaggio.
When in Florence, a visit to one of Italy's most prominent museums, Galleria degli Uffizi, is a must! Housing the worlds finest collection of Italian Renaissance paintings by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, just to name a few. For a serious art lover or student, this is one of the most important art museums in the world.
Pensione Bencistà
Otto and Trielle the two Labs that reside at Pensione Bencistà
Panoramic view of Florence from Pensione Bencistà
Panoramic view of Florence from Pensione Bencistà
The view from my room
The terrace, where we gathered every morning for breakfast
Part of our group at breakfast
The garden
Another view from inside Pencione Bencistà
Giuseppe's garden
Giuseppe has been the master gardener at Pencione Bencistà for over 39 years. Every day he harvests the fruits of his labor for all the guests to enjoy at dinner. This particular day we were served zucchini blossoms, Yum!
Early on before the start of our workshop, a few of us did a day trip to the near by medieval town of Siena, about an hour bus ride from Florence. Known for it's most famous festival, Il Palio di Siena, a horse race-run in Siena's Piazza del Campo. This very popular event lasts four days June 29 - July 2 and then again from August 13 - 16. We happened to be there on June 27, a couple of days before the start of this manifestation. There was a lot of excitement, including a parade.
A parade in Siena a few days before the start of Il Palio di Siena
Torre del Mangia and the Palazzo Pubblico on the Piazza del Campo
Siena Duomo - Cathedrale di Santa Maria
Siena Duomo
Another view of Siena
Street art - Siena
This is my third visit to Italy and this is one of my favorite things, without a doubt, that I look forward to indulge in, Gelato! Oh yeah!!
'Sienese Laundry'
Giuseppe
Giuseppe
Lunch in Fiesole with part of our group
The Roman Theatre of Fiesole
Roman Baths - Fiesole
Clock Tower - Fiesole
Another one
Future painting
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore - Il Duomo di Firenze
Il Duomo viewed from the Uffizi
Porta del Paradiso - Gates of Paradise
The Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River
Ponte Vecchio
View of Florence from Giardino Bardini
Another view of Florence from Giardino Bardini
Giardino Bardini
Giardino Bardini
View of the Arno River and Florence from Giardino Bardini
Andrew Lattimore
Some of our work lined up to be critiqued