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Museo Pietro Annigoni in Villa Bardini, Florence

5/25/2014 9:25:25 AM

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COMING UP: Saturday, May 31 & Sunday, June 1, 2014: GREAT FALLS OUTDOOR ARTS FESTIVAL, Great Falls, VA

Saturday, 9am to 5pm/Sunday, 11am to 8pm

25 Artists, You're Invited, Free Admission, Rain or Shine at the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Walker Road, VA 

LOOKING BACK

And now, an Excerpt from my Sunday, April 20, 2014 post:

Friday was extraordinary. Hope you’re not tired of my saying that.

I’ve found that the further you climb and pant uphill – the better the reward. Friday proved it as we bravely made the, maybe 60-degree, ascent straight to the clouds it seemed with the planned destination of Museo Pietro Annigoni in the Villa Bardini.  What a place.

We were there to see the Annigoni’s.  Pietro Annigoni is a favorite son of Florence. He’s not very well known outside these city limits– but he taught/influenced a ton of artists and sprouted a major resurgence of painting Ateliers, including the Florence Academy of Art and Angel Academy (also in Florence).

Close-up of "Rossella Segreto" by Pietro Annigoni, lithographia in the Museo Pietro Annigoni, Florence, Italy

At one time he taught Nelson Shanks who founded Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia.  I can see glimpses of that influence.

I’m into stating favorites lately. This day it was clearly Annigoni’s “Rossella Segreto” – what looks like a charcoal drawing and is labeled “litografia.” Probably the same thing?

What I love about it – beyond EVERYTHING – is the refined nature of her face and fluidity, painterly style defining her hair. How gorgeous, powerful is that?

I know this will be a source of inspiration for works to come.  So often I paint when happening upon a live model – as in McLean’s  Saturday open life. This drawing will make me reach for a different material to try my hand some day soon.

After touring the museum, we headed to the gardens that had been winking at us from terraces and windows each floor up. The gardens are filled with pathways, sculptures, waterways that show off another form of artistry … all with the backdrop of this beautiful city.

An arbor covered with wisteria in full bloom was the “Kodak Moment” spot. Except, my camera battery was blinking empty … and my camera card was full … and the back-up camera card was snugly tucked away in the hotel room.

There’s a restaurant there – where we had a great plate of salad, charcuterie, cheeses on a loggia with our friends overlooking this ridiculously beautiful scene.

Each outing provides inspiration to discover more.   This is a place begging for a return visit.

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