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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Domenico Ghirlandaio: Florentine artist, teacher to Michelangelo

April 11, 2021 by Melissa Muldoon Leave a Comment

Domenico Ghirlandaio, The Birth of the Virgin

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 only forty-five. The last time I was in Florence I admired the cycle of frescos of the life of the Virgin that Ghirlandaio created for the Tornabuoni Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria Novella.

Domenico Ghirlandaio, The Marriage of the Virgin

Ghirlandaio’s compositions are at the same time large but decorous. There is a precision and an eye towards contouring his figures that could be due to the fact that Ghirlandaio began his career as an apprentice to a jeweler. Ghirlandaio went on to become a talented painter and was also one of Michelangelo’s first teachers. Surely Michelangelo would have observed and learned from Ghirlandaio’s techniques of his masterful rendering of weight and three-dimensional form.

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Old man & young boy

The other day I was admiring the “Portrait of an Old Man and a Youth” by Ghirlandaio. The word “ritratto” in Italian means portrait and the word “autoritratto” means “self-portrait.” In this painting, we don’t know the identity of the old man or the young boy but it is a beautiful example of Renaissance portrait painting. The artist seeks to involve and draw in the spectator, creating an emotional attachment to his subjects. There is a stylistic and psychological change as to how people were portrayed as compared to the precedent eras of the early Renaissance and Medieval periods.

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Detail: Old man & young boy

Indeed the viewer has a sense that something is happening in the portrait. In fact, focusing on the profile of the man and the way he gazes at the boy, the viewer is inspired to create a dialogue between the two. Ghirlandaio has not idealized the man’s profile in any way. Instead, he depicts the old man with all his defects, his aged face with wrinkles and lines, and his knobby nose. When I look at his nose the word “bitorzoluto” (which means knobby) comes to mind.

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Detail: Old man & young boy

We can imagine from his well-worn appearance the man has great wisdom that comes from his advanced age. He is someone who has experienced the good and that bad, the disappointments and the joys that life has to offer. In contrast, the boy with his fair skin and golden curls, perhaps his grandson, is beautiful. He appears to be quite innocent. The boy touches the man’s chest affectionately and looks him directly in the eye as if to say, “I trust you. You are at the end of the path and I am just beginning. Give me direction. Point me in the right way.”

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Detail: Old man & young boy

To reinforce this idea, in the background behind the two figures we see a window looking out into the world beyond. The landscape is hazy, but you can see a twisting road that winds into the mountains. Who knows where the road will go and where it will end?

It could be an allegory; our life is a journey and we learn along the way, never knowing where the road will take us or what we will encounter. But surely one day our beauty, youth, and innocence, like that of the boy will end. Eventually, our bodies become old and well used like the elderly man. But in exchange, we have a deeper understanding of the world. If we are lucky, we can leave a legacy of love and impart our knowledge, at least a small part, to a new generation.

Like my character Sophia, I believe that art can talk to you if you are willing to listen. Read “Dreaming Sophia” to learn more about Italian art and what Sophia hears and sees when she visits the paintings in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. 

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Filed Under: Renaissance Tagged With: Domenico Ghirlandaio, Florence, Florentine Artist, Michelangelo, Portrait old man young boy, Renaissance Art

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Prett Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Pretty Woman the Musical" at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. ( His Christmas gift to me this year!) We had so much fun! Began the evening with drinks at the Otopia rooftop bar to watch the sunset, then dinner at Acre 41. The show was fantastic, well staged, great singing — just a lot of fun to watch live theater again! #prettywomanthemusical #austintexas #bassconcerthall #theater
New on the Studentessa Matta Blog! Alessandra, It New on the Studentessa Matta Blog!

Alessandra, Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable dish

Alessandra, an Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable spaghetti dish made with artichokes and anchovies. 

In her guest post Alessandra tells us about Livorno and more about herself and her background. Alessandra has traveled extensively and made homestays in America so she knows what it’s like to be away from home and how important it is to find a warm and friendly environment that makes you feel comfortable as a family or among friends.

Find out more about the Italian Language Homestay opportunities offered on the StudentessaMatta.com website : See links in Bio.

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Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema ital Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema italiano è scomparsa. È successo ieri, Mercoledì 18 gennaio. La diva italiana aveva 95 anni. 

Più ricordata come un modello e attrice - una vera bomba, molto sexy e seducente, Gina Lollobrigida era una donna di talenti incredibili che comprendeva tutte le arti - cinema, fotografia e scultore. 

Leggi il nuovo post su StudentessaMatta.com

#studentessamatta #GinaLollobrigida #Lollo #ItalianCinema #ItalianFilmStar #attriceitaliana✨👑🎬🎥
Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vici Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vicina di casa ha fatto marmellata in casa e mi ha dato un vasetto! Oggi l'ho spalmata sul mio toast! Il gusto è veramente ottimo! Grazie Brianna!

#marmellata #vasetto #vincina #dolce #italiano

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