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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Blog

La Ciociara (Two Women) – A film starring Sophia Loren

To read this post in Italian, please visit the Matta Blog. Click here. La Ciociara (in English: Two Women) is a film starring Sophia Loren. I've been hosting a film festival of Sophia Loren's film recently and I began with this one which is one of my all-time favorites. The film is a revelatory … [Read more...] about La Ciociara (Two Women) – A film starring Sophia Loren

An Art Blog is Born!

The Art of Loving Italy is a website about art, but it is also a mentality. It is a way of seeing the world and all the beauty in it. Are you curious about art? Did you study Art in school — loved it — but now can't remember the difference between Renaissance and Baroque? Do you … [Read more...] about An Art Blog is Born!

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New on the StudentessaMatta.com website! An exchan New on the StudentessaMatta.com website! An exchange of letters between artist and author. 

After writing the novel "Eternally Artemisia, some loves, like some women, are timeless," based on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, the seventeenth-century artist, I received a letter from the artist thanking me for sharing her story!

Imagine that! 

In a two part post: “A letter from Artemisia to the author” and “A response from the author to Artemisia,” letters exchanged between Artemisia Gentileschi and Melissa Muldoon the author 

After reading Artemisia’s letter, of course I wanted to respond to her, too, to thank her for being an inspiration and a role model for all women as well as the inspiration for my story.

The novel I’ve written about Artemisia is is based on fact and well-documented historical details and it also blend with a bit of fantasy and imagination. 

Ever since I first met Artemisia in a darkened Art History classroom, looking at slides of her paintings and learning her story, I found it as relevant today as it was then and one that shouldn’t be forgotten. Artemisia left her mark on the world through hard work, humility, resilience, and integrity. Despite being sexually abused, beaten down, and betrayed by those she loved and believed; she never gave up. 

To to tell Artemisia’s story, I wanted the artist to speak to readers directly, using her own words, in her own time. But I also wished to convey all aspects of Artemisia’s life and the aftershocks that rippled on for many centuries. To do so, I created a story that weaves together plot lines from the past, present, and future.

Learn more about the novel in this post. Links in Bio.

#Artemisia Gentileschi #EternallyArtemisia #Florence #Rome #Baroque #TimeTravel #SearchingUniverse #StrongWomen #EternalLove #NovelItaly #RenaissanceItaly #MussoliniHistory #Caravaggio #artHistory #ItalyNovel #ItalyArt #ItalyTravel #AgostinoTassi #OrazioGentileschi #melissamuldoon
“Eternally Artemisia — some loves, like some “Eternally Artemisia — some loves, like some women are timeless” a novel set in Italy by Melissa Muldoon.

Meet the protagonists of the story, Maddalena and Matteo who through out time, continue to find one another and fall in love all over again.

In Melissa Muldoon’s novel that celebrates Artemisia Gentisleschi the 17th Century painter, her art and spirit are shown through various lifetimes. 

The story tells Gentileschi’s story creatively and the effect she had not only on the art world but as an example and role model to women, but it also explores the idea that when there is a profound attachment between two souls, who experience life so intensely and passionately, they are cosmically bound together. They endure through all seasons, never fading away, and are fated to meet repeatedly.

Find your copy of “Eternally Artemisia” on Amazon in print, epub for Kindle, and as an Audiobook. Links in Bio.

#Artemisia Gentileschi #EternallyArtemisia #Florence #Rome #Baroque #TimeTravel #SearchingUniverse #StrongWomen #EternalLove #NovelItaly #RenaissanceItaly #IsabellaMedici #Medici #Florence #Firenze #Arezzo #Rome #MussoliniHistory #SophiaLoren #SofonisbaAnguissola #Michelangelo #artHistory #ItalyNovel #ItalyArt #ItalyTravel
Artemisia’s Poem written for the novel “Eter Artemisia’s Poem 

written for the novel “Eternally Artemisia, Some loves, like some women are timeless, by Melissa Muldoon

They say some loves travel through time and are fated to meet over and over again. For Maddie, an art therapist, who wrestles with the “peculiar feeling” she has lived previous lives and is being called to Italy by voices that have left imprints on her soul, this idea is intriguing. 

Despite her best efforts, however, proof of this has always eluded her. That is, until one illuminating summer in Italy when Maddie’s previous existences start to bleed through into her current reality and she meets Artemisia Gentileschi a 17th century artist.

With Artemisia by her side, Maddie realizes some art is eternal, but some loves are also timeless. She finally experiences the profound attachment that exists between two souls who experience life so intensely and passionately they are cosmically bound together. They endure through all seasons, never fading away, and are fated to meet repeatedly.

In a journey that arcs back to biblical days and moves forward in time, with Artemisia by her side, Maddie discovers that when we dare to take control of our lives and find the “thing” we are most passionate about, we are limitless and can touch the stars.

Find your copy of “Eternally Artemisia” on Amazon in print, epub for Kindle, and as an Audiobook. Links in Bio.

#Artemisia Gentileschi #EternallyArtemisia #Florence #Rome #Baroque #TimeTravel #SearchingUniverse #StrongWomen #EternalLove #NovelItaly #RenaissanceItaly #IsabellaMedici #Medici #Florence #Firenze #Arezzo #Rome #MussoliniHistory #SophiaLoren #SofonisbaAnguissola #Michelangelo #artHistory #ItalyNovel #ItalyArt #ItalyTravel
Meet Matteo Crociani and Maddalena — also known Meet Matteo Crociani and Maddalena — also known as the Duchess!

These two delightful characters are from the novel “Eternally Artemisia, some loves, like some women are timeless,” by Melissa Muldoon.

Brief synopsis: For Maddie, an art therapist, the idea she has lived previous lives is intriguing but never proven, until one summer during an art retreat in Italy, she is introduced to the Crociani family with ties to the Medici court. Falling back in time she comes face to face with the 17th c artist Artemisia Gentileschi and finally meets the loves of her life, past, present and future.

As Maddie travels through time with Artemisia, the story reanimates in Rome and she takes on the persona of Maddalena, the notorious fashion designer working in Mussolini’s Rome.

It was an important period of Artemisia’s ongoing story, because during the 1930s her paintings were rediscovered. Due to changing tastes in art, Gentileschi's paintings fell into relative obscurity, for centuries forgotten or attributed to male artists. Artemisia’s work was brought to light and properly credited by Art Historians during a surge of rediscovery in the early years before World War II.

Find out how the story of these two lovers plays out. Will it be a happy ending?

If you believe in eternal love… well, even if they meet a terrible fate… they will meet again!

#Artemisia Gentileschi #EternallyArtemisia #Florence #Rome #Baroque #StrongWomen #EternalLove #NovelItaly #RenaissanceItaly #IsabellaMedici #Medici #Florence #Firenze #Arezzo #Rome #MussoliniHistory #SophiaLoren #SofonisbaAnguissola #Michelangelo #artHistory #ItalyNovel #ItalyArt #italytravelspecialist
My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and Eleonora… the heroines of my four novels set in Italy.

Escape to Italy in the pages of a novel!

Melissa Muldoon is the author of four novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. All four books tell the stories of women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future for themselves. 

Available on Amazon in Print, Epub, and Audio. Links in bio.

5 Stars - Dianne Hales (author of La Bella Lingua, La Passione, and Mona Lisa-A Life Discovered): A true Renaissance woman, Melissa Muldoon weaves her passions for art and Italy into a stirring saga that sweeps across centuries. As her time-traveling heroine, Maddie reconnects with kindred souls, we meet Artemisia Gentileschi, the 17th–century artist who overcame rape and ignominy to gain respect and acclaim. Historical figures such as Galileo and Mussolini also come to life in this intricately plotted novel. Still, the women who defy all constraints to take control of their destinies are the ones who prove to be eternally fascinating. 
 
5 Stars - Lize Amazon Reader: What a lovely story! Melissa weaves the lives of 4 women across time, all with some connection to Artemisia Gentileschi, a 16th-century Italy painter. They represent the feminine strength that arises from life challenges, each with unique intelligence. Underlying their stories is the idea that love transcends all, even time; love is timeless. As with her other books, Melissa fills the story out with interesting facts and references to Italian life, culture, and its history; her attention to detail is immaculate. I loved the many connections in this story that tied it all together; very cleverly done. Wonderful read; I would highly recommend it.

#MelissaMuldoon #IndieAuthor #artemisiagentileschi #NovelsetinItaly
#Medici #Tuscany #Rome #Montepulciano #Florence #SofonisbaAnguissola #IsabellaMedici #Medici #ARezzo
Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. Sono c Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. 

Sono contenta che mi stia seguendo qui su Instagram!

I’m pleased you are following me on Instagram. I help you to learn Italian.

I organize, with my partner schools in Italy, small group language immersion programs in Arezzo, Lucca and Montepulciano.

For 10 or 12 days, you will study at the school at your level in the mornings and in the afternoons we will participate in activities and go on excursions— like make pasta, drink wine, talk to local artisans and see churches, museums, art —even the giostra del Saracino - the jousting festival if you join me in Arezzo.

Accommodations and most evening meals are all included AND you will have unlimited conversation practice and language learning when you meet my Italian friends and teachers from the schools who will accompany us.

The dates for 2023 Matta Italian Language Programs are

2023 Matta and Arezzo Italian Language Program: June 11 - 23

2023 Matta and Lucca Italian Language Program: August 24 - Sept 2
 
2023 Matta September Arezzo Joust Weekend: September 2 - 4, 2023 (Open to Italian learners and English speakers) 

2023 Matta and Montepulciano Italian Language Program: September 10 - 22

Join me in Italy 2023 and take your Italian language skills further.

More information and to sign up can be found on the StudentessaMatta.com website

Alla prossima! Ciao!

#learnItalian #ItalianImmersionPrograms #StudentessaMatta #Arrezzo #Montepulciano #Lucca #LuccaItalianSchool #LIS #Culture_Italiana_Arezzo #IlSasso #LearnInItaly#TravelItaly #tuscanylovers
Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian i Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian idiomatic expressions involving frogs and toads.

New post on the StudentessaMatta.com blog site.

Today I'm talking about lively idioms that practically jump up and down. These idiomatic expressions involve frogs and toads and will surely put a spring in your step and make you jump a level up. Want to sound like a native Italian speaker? Here is a chance to brush up on some Italian idioms involving our little web-footed friends.

#ItalianExpressions #ModiDire #Rano #Rospo #Ranocchio #Frog #Toad #SputareRospo #RanaGola #PrincipeRanocchio #FrogPrince #IngoiareRospo #StudentessaMatta

Image credit: AdobeStock

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