“Creativity takes courage.” — Henri Matisse
Latest from the Blog
Spotlight on Alberto Pancorbo
Welcome to the Art of Loving Italy website, where I wax on wildly and enthusiastically about art and Italy. But that doesn’t mean my posts will always focus on Italian art or Italian artists. The Art of Loving Italy is a mentality – a way of seeing the world and all the beauty in it. I, therefore, intend…
Artemisia Gentileschi – A woman who triumphed against great odds
From the first day, I was introduced to Artemisia in a darkened lecture hall in college, I have been fascinated and intrigued by the seventeenth-century artist’s story. Artemisia was a sixteenth-century artist pitted against a male-dominated society. During her lifetime Artemisia suffered through many dark days. She lived in a male-dominated society, and because of…
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The man who wrote the book of Love — Petrarch’s sonnets to Laura
The only love that lasts is unrequited love. You’ve heard of Heathcliff and Cathy. You already know the stories of Scarlett O’Hara and Ashley Wilkes, as well as Dante and Beatrice. You may also be familiar with Charlie Brown’s love for the Little-Red-Haired Girl. But, are you familiar with the story of Laura and Petrarca…
Continue Reading The man who wrote the book of Love — Petrarch’s sonnets to Laura
The Marvelous Miss Anguissola!
Sofonisba Anguissola – try to repeat that name three times fast! The name Sofonisba Anguissola doesn’t necessarily roll off the tongue easily. Not only is it an unusual name, but it is also a name that, for many, many years has gone unnoticed and, for the most part, forgotten. The reason you ask? Well, unfortunately,…
Umberto Boccioni and Futurism
As we turn the page and face a new year, I wanted to talk about an artistic movement that dared to break with the past and create a unique, forward-thinking expression of the world. The movement I refer to is — Futurism. In retrospect, Futurism might seem a little out-dated — being over 110 years old…
The magic of the Magi.
‘Tis the season to be triumphant and jolly! It is also the season to embrace the spirit of hope and miracles of the human heart. When we do — miracles happen. There is no bigger miracle than the birth of a child. It is truly a mystery and wondrous thing, no matter what religion you…
Bringing the “Grand Tour” home!
This is a post reprised from the Studentessa Matta Dual Langauge Italian Blog. To read the post in Italian Click this link Back in the day, to expand your horizons and see great works of art, you had to travel great distances to find it. It was called “The Grand Tour” — and no I’m…
Playlist of Italian Songs for each book I write
Everyone has a different style of writing and a different way of going about the creative process. When it comes to music—some listen to music while they write, and some don’t. I tend to fall into the latter category. During the day, listening to music while I’m putting words together is far too distracting. I…
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The author
Meet Melissa
Melissa Muldoon is an artist, illustrator, graphic designer, and the principal behind Matta Press. She is the author of “Dreaming Sophia” and “Waking Isabella,” and Eternally Artemisia She has also co-translated her second novel, “Waking Isabella,” into Italian — “Il risveglio di Isabella.”
Through books, blogs, videos, podcasts, social media, and programs to learn Italian in Italy, Melissa promotes the study of Italian language and culture.
