Welcome to the Art of Loving Italy site! I believe there
is beauty all around us and if we take the time to
really look and see things around us we will
discover art is everywhere — but nowhere more so than in Italy!
Hi! I’m Melissa… an artist, Italian language blogger, author, and an art historian. In fact, I love art history so much, I studied it in college and went on to grad school to earn a Master’s degree in the subject. This site came into being after I published my first novel Dreaming Sophia, a book that takes place in Italy, and focuses on the art of Italy, and it colorful pageant of artists, musicians, and actors. It, along with the companion Pinterest page “The Art of Loving Italy,” were developed to supplement my novel so that I could familiarize readers visually with the paintings, personalities, and music that I talk about in my book.
And now the site is taking on a new life of its own!
My posts about artists and their art on this site are meant to be informative, but also fun and entertaining. I like discovering oddities and absurdities, in the art world. It is my belief that art doesn’t have to be boring or stuffy and the more I learn the more I realize that each artist or painting has an incredible story to tell. Being an art historian is a bit like being a detective. All you need to do is scratch the surface of a painting, and you will be surprised by what you will learn!
I firmly believe if you take the time to really look around you, you will discover there is beauty everywhere, from the light filtering through the trees to the tattoo of the person sitting next to you on the bus. If you open your eyes and ears you will find that paintings will actually talk to you and you will learn fascinating truths.
There are so many things to discover
in the world of art and I can’t wait
to share them with you!
As Picasso once said:
“Art is the lie, that makes us realize the truth.”
So, come along with me on my journey to explore the art world and pictures that decorate our lives. It will be a fascinating exploration!
P.s. Since publishing “Dreaming Sophia” I have written two additional novels — “Waking Isabella” (also translated into Italian) and “Eternally Artemisia” that also celebrate art and creativity.
For more information about my novels
visit my author website
Books available on Amazon
You will also find me blogging in Italian on the
Studentessa Matta Dual language website
