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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Blog

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

Raphael’s “The School of Athens” – Fun facts and rivalries

If you have been to the Vatican museums and wandered through the halls taking in the vast assortment of art and sculpture, then surely you have also happened upon the “Raphael” rooms located on the second floor of the Vatican Palace. In 1509 through 1511, Raphael Sanzio from Urbino, a rock-star … [Read more...] about Raphael’s “The School of Athens” – Fun facts and rivalries

Teresa Oaxaca — Contemporary American Artist who Paints with a Renaissance Twist

I am entranced by the American painter Teresa Oaxaca—not only by her paintings but also by the artist herself. At the age of 12, she discovered Leonardo da Vinci and by age 15 she decided to make art her career. Oaxaca, originally from Sacramento, California, studied in Florence, Italy, and now … [Read more...] about Teresa Oaxaca — Contemporary American Artist who Paints with a Renaissance Twist

The Art of Beautiful TV: Medici 3

I just finished up watching the third season of The Medici — Masters of Florence that is now available on Netflix. To read the article in Italian click here: Spoiler alert: Lorenzo de’ Medici – il magnificodies at the age of forty-three, and his wife Clarice dies at the age of … [Read more...] about The Art of Beautiful TV: Medici 3

Spotlight on Georgy Kurasov: Contemporary, Colorful, Emotive Cubist Painter

Recently I came across the work of Georgy Kurasov and was drawn in by the fantastical colorful images, reminiscent of 1920’s cubism. So, first, I was surprised to learn Kurasov is a contemporary painter. And then, I was amazed to learn that as a young art student, Georgy's teachers initially thought … [Read more...] about Spotlight on Georgy Kurasov: Contemporary, Colorful, Emotive Cubist Painter

Happy 568th Birthday Leo!

Today, April 15, 2020 Leonardo turns 568 years old! Buon compleanno, Maestro! One could wax on and on about the genius of Leonardo (and over the years many people have!) how he was an inventor, painter, sculptor, architect, and military engineer. He was a gifted man with a curious mind. … [Read more...] about Happy 568th Birthday Leo!

Art, Life, Marriage in time of Covaid-19

To read the original post in Italian click here! Despite the entire world being locked up in quarantine, and many routines and plans being postponed and canceled, my family finds a moment to celebrate a momentous event in our lives.  Today my son is getting married. We are joining the … [Read more...] about Art, Life, Marriage in time of Covaid-19

SmARTalec — Art Cartoons

Today, just for fun… let’s go a little art hysterical! It’s time for a little levity in Art. These days we could all use a good dose of laughter. Did you know that Art doesn’t have to be a dusty, recitation of intellectual facts? No, not at all! You can always find humor in Art! And some of … [Read more...] about SmARTalec — Art Cartoons

The Art of the bidet and the urinal.

What is Art? Can it be found in the design of a bidet or a urinal? In my opinion, of course! I'm a big contender that Art can be found in the most unusual places — even the bathroom. It is all in the way you see and perceive things. Back in 1917, Marcel Duchamp put on display his "found … [Read more...] about The Art of the bidet and the urinal.

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. … [Read more...] about Spotlight on Alberto Pancorbo

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 … [Read more...] about Artemisia Gentileschi – A woman who triumphed against great odds

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Driving through the Maremma wending my way back to Driving through the Maremma wending my way back to Roma!
Grazie Antonio @notapioneer per una serata fantast Grazie Antonio @notapioneer per una serata fantastica a Vistamare ti auguro un futuro pieno della fortuna! 💙💛 #portasantospirito💙💛 lol ci sentiamo. Alla prossimo !
Love this place! Dinner with a spectacular view!!! Love this place! Dinner with a spectacular view!!! Vista Mare! Situazione attuale mi piace!!! 👍
Al ristorante VistaMare ! Che vista!!!! @vistamare Al ristorante VistaMare ! Che vista!!!! @vistamare
The Matta Book Club returns this fall with a new n The Matta Book Club returns this fall with a new novel!! 

More details and the big reveal of the title and the author and details how to sign up for the book club will come next week in a post on the StudentessaMatta.com website... so stay tuned. 

Currently, I'm still in Italy wrapping up a very successful language program in Arezzo! We had a wonderful time!

Now I'm at the beach and currently finishing up the next book club read! LOL

What I can tell you about the novel is that it is a contemporary adventure/murder mystery set in Italy, that takes you from Monte Carlo to London and to France where two thieves board the Orient Express to Venice as they track down Casanova's diary. 

Next week you will have the chance to sign up for group book club meetings of up to 3 or 4 readers, or individual sessions. The novel is available in print and audio and it is my recommendation, with plenty of lead time to read the novel during the summer months prior to the October start date, so that we can really dive into the story, and plot, and work on grammar and idioms.

Stay tuned! State sintonizzati! A presto!
This guy has all his ducks in a row! Al mare in Ca This guy has all his ducks in a row! Al mare in Castiglione della Pescaia
Buongiorno principessa! Siamo pronti per il mare! Buongiorno principessa! Siamo pronti per il mare! 😃

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