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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Blog

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 Italy my novel entitled “Dreaming Sophia.” I have always had a secret fantasy of dressing like Eleonora di Toledo. This desire is played out in a new book I have written called “Dreaming … [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 “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 … [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, … [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 why … [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

The amazing world of Massimo Balestrini

It is a pleasure to introduce you to a very good friend of mine—Massimo Balestrini and share with you his art! Massimo Balestrini was born in Milan at the end of the '60s and after his art studies in high school he graduated in Computer Science from the State University of Milan and shortly there … [Read more...] about The amazing world of Massimo Balestrini

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Current status. Boarding plane bound for Rome. Current status. Boarding plane bound for Rome.
Sono pronta per partire! Italia sto arrivando!!! # Sono pronta per partire! Italia sto arrivando!!! #traveling #italy #andiamo
Announcing a new Online Italian Course with LOVE I Announcing a new Online Italian Course with LOVE ITALIAN in BOLOGNA!

The course is called: Bologna in 10 PAROLE! 

The course will be taught by: Greta Boccia, a new Italian teacher at Love Italian in Bologna.

The course is designed for B2 Level Italian Students.

The course aims to explore the city of Bologna through 10 words that distinguish it. 

To get an idea of what the course will entail, here are a few of the words that describe Bologna that will be discussed in depth TORRE, UNIVERSITA’, PASTA FRESCA, COLLI, SEGRETI, MUSICA.

There will be 8 online meetings on Windows Teams.

For more information, contact me

Link in Bio
“Waking Isabella” is about the life of Elenora “Waking Isabella” is about the life of Elenora & Cosimo I de’ Medici’s daughter Isabella. She was murdered by her husband in Cerreto Guidi on the orders of her brother. There is an urban legend that says her ghost still walks the halls of the hunting villa. But my stories are fiction too… and I’ve created a scenario in with there was a particular painting done by Bronzino commissioned by Cosimo of his wife Eleonora and his daughter Isabella that goes missing during World War II

#isabellamedici #bronzino #medicihistory #indieauthor #novelItaly #italianhistory
“Waking Isabella” is a novel set in Arezzo Ita “Waking Isabella” is a novel set in Arezzo Italy! Take a trip to il bel paese in the pages of a book! 

Waking Isabella is a story about uncovering hidden beauty that over time has been lost, overlooked or suppressed. It also weaves together several love stories as well as a few mysteries. Nora, an assistant researcher, is a catalyst for resolving the puzzle of a painting that has been missing for decades. Set in Arezzo, a small Tuscan town, the plot unfolds against the backdrop of the city’s Antique trade and the fanfare and pageantry of its medieval Jousting Festival.

#IsabellaMedici #WakingIsabella #CerettoGuidi #ItalyNovel #Bronzino #StudentessaMattaf #Florence #Tuscany #CosimoMedici #ArezzoItaly #GiostraSaracino #JoustArezzo #Vasari #jewelrymaking #FamousArt
Linguno vi aiuta a dicefrare la torre del codice Linguno vi aiuta a dicefrare la torre 
del codice Babel! È un’ottimo modo 
per apprendere i verbi italiani.

Listen up, language enthusiasts! I’d like to introduce you to Linguno.com an online free language learning site. I think it is an effective digital tool for learning Italian conjugations and practicing listening skills. And believe me; I’ve tried a lot of them!

Learn more in a new post on the StudentessaMatta website. Links in bio. 
#linguno #learnitalian #italianverbdrillsonline #italianverbs
Linguno Helps you Crack the Tower of Babel code! Linguno Helps you Crack the Tower of Babel code!

Listen up, language enthusiasts! I want to introduce you to Linguno.com an online free language learning site. I think it is an effective digital tool for learning Italian conjugations and practicing listening skills. The site is fantastic for all levels of Italian learners, especially those new to the language. With interactive exercises and quizzes, Linguno turns the mundane task of conjugating Italian verbs into a productive and rewarding experience. Read my review!

#Linguno #TowerBabel #StudentessaMatta #PracticeItalianConjugation #ItalianLanguageLearning #italian #learnItalian #OnlineItalianLanguagePractice

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