“Creativity takes courage.” — Henri Matisse
Where would we be without Art?
The world of ART is a fascinating place, filled with all kinds of unusual beauty, stories of artists that inspire, and creative endeavors that are simply astounding. If we listen closely Art will talk to us… and if we open our eyes and really look we will discover through ART new truths about ourselves.
It is true! The EARTH without “ART” would be just “EH.”
Latest from the Art of Loving Italy Blog
Botticelli’s Birth of Venus: the ultimate ideal of feminine beauty & where the artist got his inspiration
Today I want to talk to you about Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and the representation of the ultimate ideal of female beauty and where Botticelli derived his inspiration. This is a small detail of Botticelli’s much larger painting, that I painted when I was a student in Florence. I attended a course in the Oltrarno…
Van Gogh Immersive Experience — Walking rapidly through Art (would Vincent have approved?)
Last week I attended the Van Gogh Immersive Experience in Austin, Texas. The exhibit is live and going strong in many cities across the United States, Mexico, and Europe. There has been a lot of hype about this show, and it has become extremely popular. The “pop” hit of the post-Covid lockdown. I was excited…
Enjoying and celebrating life is an art form in Italy!
Celebrate like the Italians do! In Italian you say “facciamo festa!” In Italy there are so many festivals and celebrations… the Italians really know how to throw a party! Italian cities throughout Italy celebrate civil and religious festivals, historical re-enactments, local festivals, and events particularly linked to a city or country. If you love Italy,…
Continue Reading Enjoying and celebrating life is an art form in Italy!
Macchiaioli vs. Impressionists: Why did one 19th Century art movement become famous… and the other not so much!?
Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about a subject very close to my heart—a group of Italian artists who painted in the nineteenth century. They are called “the Macchiaioli.” When I was an art student in Florence I went to the Pitti Palace where the museum of modern art is located.…
Domenico Ghirlandaio: Florentine artist, teacher to Michelangelo
This post first appeared in Italian on the Studentessa Matta Blog on September 28th, 2012. You can read the article in its original Italian clicking this link I have always liked the painter Domenico Ghirlandaio, an artist of the Renaissance that worked in Florence. He was born in 1449 and died in 1494; he was…
Continue Reading Domenico Ghirlandaio: Florentine artist, teacher to Michelangelo
Eleonora de’ Medici & Her Fabulous Golden Gown
Eleonora de’ Medici the duchess of Florence and wife of Cosimo de Medici is one of Sophia’s muses in the novel of Italy by Melissa Muldoon Dreaming Sophia. I have always had a secret fantasy to dress like Eleonora di Toledo. This desire is played out in a new book I have written called “Dreaming Sophia”.…
Continue Reading Eleonora de’ Medici & Her Fabulous Golden Gown
Critics Choice: Gold & Silver Awards for Eternally Artemisia and The Secret Life of Sofonisba
I got some fantastic news last week! My latest novel “The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola” has wonReader Views Silver Award in the 2020-2021 Historical Fiction Category. My third novel “Eternally Artemisia” has wonReader Views Gold Award in the 2020-2021 Adult Classics Fiction Category. I’d like to thank the judges—all literary critics, who for an…
Goya and La Maja Clothed and La Maja Nude: a brief discussion and history of the artist
After seeing this meme on the internet today, I’m inspired to talk about Francesco Goya and two paintings he created called “La Maja Clothed” and “La Maja Nude.” All kidding aside, (apologies to the Spanish Queen Maria Louisa pictured above, painted also by Goya) the Maja paintings are among Goya’s most famous works of art…
“The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola” is on virtual book tour during the month of February
I am pleased to announce “The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola” is on a virtual blog tour this month with iRead Books and you can win a copy of the novel. Take an armchair trip to Italy, Spain, and Sicily as you follow the adventures of Sofonisba! Set in the Sixteenth-century, The Secret Life of Sofonisba…
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.
