Category Archives: Art/Fashion
Art Classes offered at IEI
IEI is proud to announce the launch of two Beginners Acrylic Painting Art classes taught by Italian-born artist Angelica di Chiara. Angelica is a native of the city of Brindisi, Italy, who has lived in the United States since 1984. She specializes in Italian landscapes and cityscapes, and her preferred medium is acrylic paint.
Angelica matured as an artist in Spokane, Washington, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2010. She is the recipient of several prizes, and was nominated for the Spokane’s Artist of the Year Award for two consecutive years. She has a special affinity for Venetian scenes, and two of her works have been selected for the covers of two detective novels by Timothy Holmes, set in Venice. She has exhibited at many Galleries and Venue, including the Stanford Art Spaces Exhibit at Stanford University in 2011. She also has several years’ experience teaching her craft to adults and young people.
Many of Angelica’ works adorn the walls of Italian restaurants on the Peninsula, including Donato’s Enoteca in Redwood City and Il Farro Ristorante in Burlingame. Elsewhere, her works can be seen at the Great American Frame and Gallery in Palo Alto, Flegel’s Home Furnishing & Design in Menlo Park, and at Avenue Gallery in Spokane, WA. To view more complete collections you may visit FinestItalian.com or ItalianArtStudio.com.
Angelica’s classes in Italian acrylic art will be offered in morning and evening sessions starting the week of March 26. Attendance will be limited to ensure that each student receives individualised attention. Detailed schedule and venue information are still to be determined. Anyone interested in the class is encouraged to contact IEI early to secure a spot in the class
The Italian Art Society
Cafe' Tintoretto
The IAS organizes lectures and conferences on Italian art, publishes newsletter three times a year, and awards travel grants to scholars in the pursuit of their studies. They also offer assistance in obtaining outside funding for Italian art and art history studies. Their membership includes established professors and researchers in the field, undergraduate and graduate students, and people who are simply passionate about the subject.
Some IAS upcoming events are:
IAS/KRESS LECTURES, to be held in the spring of 2012 in Venice, Italy
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE AND MATHEMATICS
Milan, Italy, June 11–14, 2012,
ATTENDING TO EARLY MODERN WOMEN: REMAPPING ROUTES AND SPACES
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, June 21–23, 2012.
For more information about the Italian Art Society please go to http://italianartsociety.org/
An example of original acrylic by Italian-born artist Angelica di Chiara is shown below. The Venetian ambience is beautifully pictured in this nostalgic outdoor scene. Find it on our sister site http://finestitalian.com for $495, or buy it here for the reduced price of $395 plus tax and a $20 shipping fee!
Tintoretto in Venice
Leonardo again – and the Bank of America?
Banks are not well-loved, these days, for reasons that are familiar to all of us. But here’s a story that shows that even banks may on occasion exhibit a social conscience and an artistic sensibility. The article below is a fragment (in free translation) from a longer article which has appeared on the Corriere della Sera, the newspaper of Milano.
The Codex Trivulzianus, one of Leonardo da Vinci’s earliest manuscripts, part of the collection of the Biblioteca del Castello Sforzesco in Milano, will be restored. The Bank of America Merrill Lynch Art Conservation Project will finance the restoration. This will not be the Art Conservation project’s only enterprise: 20 works of art and artifacts of great cultural and historic value, gathered from 19 countries, have been selected for restoration.
DIGITAL RESTORATION – The Trivulzian Codex, a collection of Leonardo’s drawings and writings, is comprised of 55 folios dated between 1478 and 1490, and it is one of the most significant documents of the Italian Renaissance. It is a unique testimonial to the eclecticism of the Italian artist/inventor: it contains notes, drawings and studies of religious and military architecture (amongst which a sketch for the cupola of the Duomo di Milano), but also analyses of the Italian language and observations on the literature of the time. Using cutting-edge software capable of producing virtual copies of Leonardo’s technical designs, the restoration project will result in a digital version of the manuscript which will remain impervious to the passage of time and will facilitate academic research, while rendering it more accessible to the lay public.
So, kudos to the Bank of America, and never mind the tax writeoffs they will take. They are doing a good thing for all of us.
Codex Trivulzianus
Codex Trivulzianus
Leonardo da Vinci
Vitruvian Man
Such an undisputed genius was the Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci, whose contributions as a scientist and artist truly boggle the mind. A description of the achievements of this Renaissance Italian must perforce include hyperbole, but this time amply justified and probably even short of the mark.
Leonardo lived from 1452 to 1519, was born in a hamlet near Vinci, and apprenticed in Florence in the bottega of Verrocchio. Most of his professional life, however, was spent in Milano, under the sponsorship of that city’s ruling family, the Sforza. A complete characterization of Leonardo’s professional curriculum would include sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, inventor, anatomist, and more.
Hundreds of books have been written about Leonardo, the creator of the Mona Lisa, the Vitruvian Man, the Lady with Ermine, the Last Supper, the Virgin of the Rocks, the Annunciation, etc. etc. And the inventor of the helicopter, the submarine, the tank and other devices for war, etc. etc. No quick summary could do justice to this man’s achievements, on this or on any other blog.
But there’s hope. A notable film about Leonardo is shortly coming to the Bay Area. This not-to-be-missed production will be shown in San Francisco and Palo Alto and in other venues for one evening only. Complete details can be found at http://leonardolivehd.com/. See you all there.
Mona Lisa
Last Supper
Annunciation
Everything Italian on one site!
Looking for Italian language instruction? Organizing a trip to Italy? What about finding the greatest Italian restaurant in the Bay Area or that ultimate recipe just like your grandma used to make? Or perhaps you spent too much time watching the game (alas!) with your buddies, and need a little Italian bauble to soothe your lovely wife’s ruffled feathers. All of these things you will find on our website. We have consolidated the contents of a couple of earlier sites to provide you with a seamless Italian experience.
Along with the new commercial elements there remains, on this site, the original focus on art, culture, and history. And we intend to grow: the ultimate aim is to provide all Italophiles of the Bay Area, and beyond, a one-stop electronic storefront that will provide intellectual stimulation alongside material possessions for gracious living. Our sister site, finestItalian.com, continues unchanged, though it, too, is slated for some enhancements.
So please come visit often, drop us a line, let us know how you feel. Buy some Italian art once in a while, or an Italian pendant for your sweetheart, or a gorgeous ceramics bowl for your holiday table. But even if you don’t, we hope to hear from you.
Il Teatro San Carlo a Napoli
Teatro San Carlo
Naples’ San Carlo Theater is the oldest operating theater in Europe. Built in 1737, it has never missed an operatic season except in the period from May 1874 to December 1876, when, because of a severe economic crisis, financial support disappeared. The San Carlo was built by King Charles of Bourbon, son of Philip of Spain and Elisabetta Farnese of Parma. Charles gave rise to a dynasty which quickly shed all vestiges of Spanish influence and became, to all effects, an indigenous dynasty which endured through the turbulent Napoleonic period and came to an end only with the unification of Italy in 1861. Naples, as the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (so-called for historical reasons), was, during the early Bourbon period, one of the most populous, beautiful, and cultured cities in Europe.
The construction of the Teatro San Carlo was only one aspect of a general urban renovation whose purpose was to give Naples a physical appearance in line with the dignity and the prestige of the capital of a great kingdom. Within the scope of this general plan, the San Carlo was conceived as a fitting symbol of the royal power and of the dynasty’s support of the musical arts, a passion long inbred in the depths of the Neapolitan psyche. The San Carlo replaced the old (1621) and small Teatro San Bartolomeo, which was eventually made into a church.
Passione
Toto'
I am obliged to comment on Passione, the film by John Turturro about Naples and Neapolitan songs. Too many people have mentioned it to me; it cannot go unheeded on this blog. So, as a native son, what do I think of it?
First off let me be clear about the fact that I have NOT seen the film. I have only watched some excerpts on youTube, a total of a couple of songs. My comments therefore are limited to this thin sample and not to the work as a whole. I suppose that I will see it sometime soon, and I may write a full review then. But these are the impressions that I gleaned from my experience so far.
Neapolitan songs, the BEST Neapolitan songs (for the poor ones are legion!), are distinguished by a particular pathos, a peculiar blend of fatalism, vivacity, passion, and strength. They are vigorous without being violent, they are passionate without being sentimental, they are universal without being abstract. Successful interpreters, Murolo, Carosone, Rondinella, Arbore… have all been able to project this complex pathos, albeit through their different individual styles. They have all been able to reach beyond the facile impulse of a superficial emotion to the deeper recesses of the souls of the listener, and all this is what has made the Neapolitan song famous all over the world.
In the thin sliver of Passione that I heard I did not find this fatal cocktail of emotions. What I found was studied preciousness, contrived artificiality and unredeemed sentimentality. All on the surface, weak and limp, troppo moscio, as we Neapolitans say. Much better samples of these songs I have in my CD collection, and that’s where I am going to repair after finishing this post.
In fairness to the producers of the film, it must be said that impressing me with a contemporary collection of Neapolitan songs would be a very tall order indeed. I am aware that my judgment cannot possibly be uncorrupted by my personal experiences in the City. I know that I am probably pining away for a Naples that no longer exists, and not just in its musical manifestations. For somebody with a different background, someone with no childhood references to deal with, these songs may be perfectly enjoyable. The Faustian compact, even without the catastrophic denouement, carries its own negative consequences.
Moto Guzzi – an Italian Story
Moto Guzzi Breva
As promised, I will now tell you the story of Moto Guzzi. This is the motorcycle that I love and ride at every opportunity (fair weather and minimal luggage.) It is a Breva 1100 of 2007 vintage, an absolutely gorgeous bike, maneuverable, fast and oozing quality and Italian flair. It is made in a small town called Mandello, on the shore of the Lago di Como. The manufacturing facilities were established there in the 1920′ and they have remained there ever since. In fact, Moto Guzzi is the oldest European motorcycle manufacturer that has maintained uninterrupted production until now. The company has had many financial ups and downs in its nearly 90 years of existence, and it is now owned by Piaggio, which also makes the Ducati motorcycle and an array of scooters, including the fabled Vespa.
Moto Guzzi was the brainchild of two aircraft pilots and their mechanic, Carlo Guzzi, Giovanni Ravelli, and Giorgio Parodi. Guzzi was a gifted automotive engineer, Parodi came from a wealthy family able to finance the venture, and Ravelli was already a famous motorcycle race driver who could publicize the new marque through his victories. This is in fact what happened: Moto Guzzi participated in Grand Prix racing until 1957, by which time it had logged 3329 official races, 8 World Championships, 6 Constructors’ Championships, and 11 Isle of Man TT victories.
Since the beginning Moto Guzzi has been renowned for their technical innovations. These included advances not only in engine design, but also in the design of transmissions and in frame construction technology. The first wind tunnel for motorcycle testing was built by Moto Guzzi. Their current offerings are all bikes of technological excellence, unsurpassed quality, and stunning beauty: they include the Breva, the Griso, the Norge, the Nevada, the Bellaggio, and other lesser known or specialty models. Several police and military organizations all over the world have opted to use Moto Guzzi motorcycles, including, for a period, the Los Angeles Police Department.
So, is the Guzzi a worthy replacement for the long-gone Ferraris? Not a fair question, the Guzzi is not a replacement for anything. It is a vehicle sui generis, in a whole different category, requiring a whole new mindset. The Ferraris, on the other hand, are irreplaceable. But both the moto and the car satisfy the same basic craving of unfettered freedom of movement, overwhelming speed on demand, and Italian style and panache.
Little-known Italy – RAVENNA
Coat of Arms of Ravenna
A few miles south of Venice, in Emilia Romagna, the enterprising traveler will find the city of Ravenna. This city is easily bypassed, it is not on most tourist itineraries nor does it generally host internationally advertised events such La Biennale di Venezia or La Fiera di Milano. It is nevertheless a city of capital importance both artistically and historically. And it offers a glimpse of that urbanely unhurried Italian lifestyle that most people seek when they visit the country.
The beginnings of Ravenna are uncertain, though scholarly opinion inclines towards an Etruscan origin. The city was never conquered by the Romans, rather, it was accepted into the Republic as a federated town. Ravenna was an important outpost during the period of ascendancy of the Western Empire, becoming its capital in its twilight, just before the Empire’s fall to the German foederati chieftain, Odoacer. It was then the capital of the first Kingdom of Italy, and continued in this role after Theodoric slew Odoacer and took over his kingdom. Retaken eventually by the Byzantines, Ravenna became the seat of Byzantine power in Italy (the Exarchate of Ravenna), until the Byzantines’ final expulsion by the Longobards. Ravenna’s distinguished history continued under the popes, until its unification with the newly-minted Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
The art and monuments of Ravenna are equally compelling. Because of its preeminent role during the Byzantine period, Ravenna is a veritable treasure trove of Byzantine art, particularly mosaics. Spectacular samples are seen in the Neonian Baptistery, the Mausoleum of Gallia Placidia, the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare in Classe, the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, the Basilica of San Vitale, and in other venues. Other attractions to be visited are the Mausoleum of Theodoric, and the Tomb of Dante Alighieri.
The Ravenna of today is a lovely city generally free of the urban ills that afflict larger cities in Italy and elsewhere. Its compact size and relative lack of motorized traffic makes it perfect for walking tours. Its cuisine is the cuisine of Romagna, that is to say, among the best in Italy. It should be a priority for the sophisticated traveler who has exhausted the better-known treasures of Rome, Venice, and Florence.
Exclusivity Italian Style
Duomo di Milano
So, what comes to your mind when you hear Gucci and Ferragamo? Furla and Armani? Yes, Italian fashion, elegance, exclusivity…and expensive, of course. Well, I wish to share with you a little story about what Italian exclusivity REALLY is. Every word of it is true.
I was in Milano several years ago and happened to mention to the Milanese friends with whom I was staying that I was looking for a particular gift for a friend back in the States. I wanted something elegantly Italian, for the home, perhaps a silver serving platter, or similar. Not to worry, said my Milanese friends, we know exactly where to take you, and we know you will find exactly what you want. We’ll go tomorrow, first thing.
The next day we took a taxi to a certain square and walked to a certain address. We were in an upscale residential area, with no indication whatsoever of any commercial activity within sight. But my friends were sure: unhesitatingly they walked me to the portone of a stately palazzo, and rang the bell for a particular apartment. There was no clue to identify the establishment we were interested in.
A matter-of-fact voice poured out of the citofono, wanting us to identify ourselves and state our business there. My friend spoke, giving his name and adding he was bringing a friend (me!), who wished to see the display. He also apologized for disturbing their tranquility, and expressed a hope that we were not inconveniencing them TOO much, and that we could come back some other time if that was more convenient. At this we heard the click of the portone opening and we went in directly.
The inner courtyard of the palazzo, with a narrow elevator off to one side, was typical of thousands of other residential habitations throughout Italy. I wondered where was the silver I had been promised, I looked for names, directional arrows, advertisements …nothing. At the behest of my friend I got into the elevator, he joined me, and we were laboriously transported several floors up. We exited onto a typical small landing with three doors, all unmarked, and my friend went up to one of them and knocked. The door was promptly open by a young man in coat and tie, who had evidently been expecting us.
I entered the room and was dazzled by the sight that now unfolded before me. I barely greeted our host, I could not wait to see and explore all that was now revealed. Every inch of wall, with the exception of the door openings, was lined from floor to ceiling with dark shelves illuminated by hidden lamps, and on the shelves was an exhibition of silver such as I had never seen before. Rows upon rows of sparkling silver creations, of every size and shape, from utilitarian serving platters and tea-sets to elaborate creations of artistic fantasy to exquisitely designed and crafted jewelry of all kinds. My friend and our host were still exchanging greetings, and I was lost in this world of brilliance and coruscating reflections, of convoluted designs intricately executed, of esoteric and subtle forms perfectly represented in this gleaming, incorruptible medium. This was artistry of the highest caliber, such as Renaissance artists routinely achieved in the Quattrocento and the Cinquecento. And here it was, in an anonymous Milano apartment, hidden away, available only to “friends of friends”, no fanfare, no marketing drumbeat, no sales, no advertisements…in fact, none of the salesmanship in which Gucci and Ferragamo excel.
For, in truth, none of these marvels owed their existence to commercial imperatives, none was produced with an eye to an eventual sale. Their reason for being, and this was sufficient, was their intrinsic beauty. They existed because they were beautiful, period. If someone wanted to buy them to add beauty to their lives that was fine, but it was not NECESSARY. To the young man who was playing host to us the matter was one of complete indifference: we could buy or not; he would in any case play the role of the urbane host, would offer us coffee, would inquire after our comfort during the trip, would tell us about the special alloys and techniques used in the manufacture of the pieces on display, would tell us about the history of his family (in the silver business for three hundred years!), and then, with the utmost delicacy, and only because we asked, he would mention a price. The price was a number, it did not matter, I was a “friend of friends”, I need have no doubt about its correctness. Above all, the decision to buy or not did not in the least hinge on the price, it was exclusively a matter of aesthetic sensibility, a measure of my susceptibility to the beauty I was shown, and a measure of the extent of my wish to possess such beauty.
There’s more to the story, but I have made my point. In this hidden-away Milano showroom runaway artistic expression, wild, free-spirited, clamorous, unashamed, combined with old-fashioned restraint and dignity to recreate a world of subtlety and grace, a world which few of us, unfortunately, get to glimpse any more. I wonder sometimes about the fate of this establishment, whose name I no longer remember. Does it still exist as it was? Has it been swallowed up by a conglomerate? Has it fallen to the blandishments of the internet and direct mail marketing? Is it still necessary to be a “friend of friends” to gain admission to the inner sanctum? Who knows. Perhaps one day I will go back to Milano and look for answers. But not yet, not yet…I have things to post online now.
finestItalian
