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“Creativity takes courage.” — Henri Matisse

Where would we be without Art?

Art adds richness to our lives.
Without “Art” The EARTH would be just “EH.”

Welcome to “The Art of Loving Italy,” your gateway to exploring the rich tapestry of Italy’s art and artists, from ancient times to contemporary masterpieces. But Art is more than a collection of creative works; it is a universal language that speaks to our souls, revealing unusual beauty, inspiring stories, and astounding creativity.

Did you know art will actually talk to you if you are open and stop to listen?

Engaging with art allows us to uncover new truths about ourselves and the world around us. It challenges us to look beyond the surface, offering profound insights and igniting our imaginations. Through art, we gain a deeper understanding of our identities and surroundings.

When we take the time to truly observe, we discover beauty everywhere.

Artists create subjective interpretations of the world through painting, sculpture, literature, or music rather than literal reproductions. By manipulating colors, shapes, words, and sounds, they evoke emotions, convey ideas, and tell stories. This freedom to express ideas is beautiful, reminding us that beauty is everywhere if we take the time to see it.

Let’s open our eyes (and ears) to what art has to say.
It will be a fascinating conversation!

Latest from the Art of Loving Italy Blog

Van Gogh Immersive Experience — Walking rapidly through Art (would Vincent have approved?)

Last week I attended the Van Gogh Immersive Experience in Austin, Texas. The exhibit is live and going strong in many cities across the United States, Mexico, and Europe. There has been a lot of hype about this show, and it has become extremely popular. The “pop” hit of the post-Covid lockdown. I was excited…

Culture, Festivals, Music, Literature

Enjoying and celebrating life is an art form in Italy!

Celebrate like the Italians do! In Italian you say “facciamo festa!” In Italy there are so many festivals and celebrations… the Italians really know how to throw a party! Italian cities throughout Italy celebrate civil and religious festivals, historical re-enactments, local festivals, and events particularly linked to a city or country. If you love Italy,…

19th Century | Modern, 18th, 19th, Contemporary

Macchiaioli vs. Impressionists: Why did one 19th Century art movement become famous… and the other not so much!?

Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about a subject very close to my heart—a group of Italian artists who painted in the nineteenth century. They are called “the Macchiaioli.” When I was an art student in Florence I went to the Pitti Palace where the museum of modern art is located….

Renaissance

Domenico Ghirlandaio: Florentine artist, teacher to Michelangelo

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…

Baroque, Rococo

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 Sophia.” Have…

Art News, Current Events | Baroque, Rococo | Melissa Book News | Renaissance

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 Category. I’d like to thank the judges—all literary critics, who for an…

Meet Melissa

Welcome to “The Art of Loving Italy,” a vibrant blog site created by Melissa Muldoon—an artist, illustrator, graphic designer, author, and art historian. Here, Melissa shares her profound passion for Italy and its rich artistic heritage.

Additionally, Melissa promotes the study of Italian through her educational website, “StudentessaMatta.com.” As an acclaimed author, Melissa has written four novels set in Italy, weaving the stories of remarkable Italian female artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi and Sofonisba Anguissola