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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Blog

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 … [Read more...] about 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 … [Read more...] about 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 … [Read more...] about Critics Choice: Gold & Silver Awards for Eternally Artemisia and The Secret Life of Sofonisba

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 … [Read more...] about Goya and La Maja Clothed and La Maja Nude: a brief discussion and history of the artist

“The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola” is on virtual book tour during the month of February

I am pleased to announce that my new novel “The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola—the most famous woman you’ve never heard of” is on a virtual blog tour this month with iRead Books and you can win a copy of the novel. US contestants can also win an audiobook! Take an armchair trip to Italy, … [Read more...] about “The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola” is on virtual book tour during the month of February

The Secret Life of Sofonisba—the most famous woman you’ve never heard of

“The Secret Life of Sofonisba—the most famous woman you've never heard of” is now published! I am happy to announce my fourth novel set in Italy has been published and is now available on Amazon in Print and Epub. Despite these uncertain times of Covid, writing a historical novel about … [Read more...] about The Secret Life of Sofonisba—the most famous woman you’ve never heard of

The art of Genya Gritchin

Surfing the internet I came across the art of Genya Gritchin, a Russian born painter who resides in Italy. This particular painting caught my eye. I was immediately entranced. The painting harkens back to Renaissance artists and classical principles of art. The picture tells a story, and … [Read more...] about The art of Genya Gritchin

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. To help you pronounce her name I've broken it down: Sofo-nees-bah Ahn-gwee-sola. Not only is Sofonisba Anguissola an unusual name, but it is also a … [Read more...] about The Marvelous Miss Anguissola!

Women hold up half the sky

As I peruse the internet, I often come across various images that are appealing to me or speak to me on some level. It is a habit to save these images into a folder to ponder and investigate a bit further, especially if the artist is unfamiliar to me. I’ve recently been intrigued by a series of … [Read more...] about Women hold up half the sky

La mia sala – Great way to improve Italian listening comprehension & enjoy art!

Are you looking for more ways to improve your Italian language listening comprehension skills? Would you like to learn more about art in Italy? Would you like to visit the Uffizi Gallery in Florence but are prohibited from doing so because of the whole Covid-Quarantine-thing? Well, you … [Read more...] about La mia sala – Great way to improve Italian listening comprehension & enjoy art!

The Japanese art of Kintsugi explained

In my new book “Eternally Artemisia” one of the themes of the book is art therapy. My main character is a therapist who leads retreats in Tuscany. One of the techniques she teaches her group of women who have suffered abuse is the art of Kintsugi. What is this? Let me explain. In Japan, when a … [Read more...] about The Japanese art of Kintsugi explained

Mondrian: Learning to see the world & appreciating our beginnings

When we think of Mondrian, most of us only recall his later works—the abstract canvases referred to as “Neo-Plasticism” that feature only horizontal and vertical lines and the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow with bars of white and gray. Traditionally all art that attempts to represent … [Read more...] about Mondrian: Learning to see the world & appreciating our beginnings

Guest Post: Sabrina – Why I study art history.

The other day I received an email from Sabrina who is studying Art History at the University of Vienna in Austria. She is writing her thesis on la Pieve in Arezzo and asked if she might use a couple of photos I took of the church. In return I asked her to send me a couple of lines telling me … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Sabrina – Why I study art history.

Fra Filippo Lippi e Lucrezia Buti: an infamous love

There are lots of infamous lovers recorded in history, but one of the most intriguing is that of Filippo Lippi and Lucrezia Buti—he a monk and she a nun! There are lots of scandalous love stories but the infamous relationship of Fra Filippo Lippi and Lucrezia Buti is even more steamy than those … [Read more...] about Fra Filippo Lippi e Lucrezia Buti: an infamous love

Bruce Katz – taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary

I am incredibly pleased to introduce you to the work of Bruce Katz. Bruce is a friend of mine who lives in San Francisco, and I have been a big fan of his artistic vision and painting styles ever since I first laid eyes on his work. Bruce writes: I am a Bay Area artist utilizing the subject … [Read more...] about Bruce Katz – taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary

Spotlight on French painter Thomas Saliot

The other day surfing the internet, I came across the work of Thomas Saliot and found it extremely intriguing. Born in Paris in 1968, Saliot is a prolific artist who characterizes his style as “mildly modernized Pop art.” Saliot works on large canvases, using oil paint. The images which he … [Read more...] about Spotlight on French painter Thomas Saliot

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I think earth will win. I think earth will win.
Man trying to conquer earth. Who will win? Man trying to conquer earth. Who will win?
Morning! Buon giorno! Sunrise walk in the hills wi Morning! Buon giorno! Sunrise walk in the hills with lake view
Parole da considerare: Dormire come un ghiro Ghiro Parole da considerare: Dormire come un ghiro
Ghiro = dormouse. I ghiri sono animali notturni dal lunghissimo letargo, ecco perchè si dice dormire come un ghiro. For more words and Italy 🇮🇹 love, visit the Studentessa Matta website and Facebook page #ItalianExpressions #ItalianVocabulary #LearnItalian #StudentessaMattaLearnItalian #Ghiro #ItalianIdioms #ItalianFluency
Il mio paesaggio. Vado in questo posto per apprezz Il mio paesaggio. Vado in questo posto per apprezzare la vista è la tranquillità’. My landscape. A place where i appreciate the view and the quiet.
Everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax. Og Everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax. Ognuno di noi abbiamo bisogno di prendere un fiato profondo _e rilassarsi.
Are you an audiobook lover? If so, I have several Are you an audiobook lover? If so, I have several books for you to choose from...
Here's to a weekend filled with reading 📚

#melissamuldoon #authormelissamuldoon #audiobook #amazon #audible #italy

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