I have traveled to Italy at least eight times, from the first study abroad trip in 1976 with Syracuse University (while I was a Colby College junior) to this trip in 2017. This trip was one of the best because I was with my daughter, and we had a great time sampling wine, food, art, architecture, and exploratory walks around these most beautiful hill towns. The sense of history and a lifestyle that celebrates the beauty of life over materialism was inspiring. Urbino is one of my favorite hill towns, with an elegant but understated palace from the 15th century. Assisi is amazingly spiritual, which is not surprising seeing as it is the home of Saint Francis, the one who talked to the birds and one of my favorite saints, even if I am not Catholic. We also appreciated the “foodie” town of Cortona, the plateau-topping Orvieto, and, as always, Lucca and Venice.
Urbino II: View to Palace July 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 26” x 32”, $650 unframed.
Venice Memories, for Lizzie September 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 32” x 26”, $2500 framed.
Assisi I Composite View July 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 26” x 32”, $650 unframed.
Assisi I, Convent July 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 26” x 32”, $650 unframed.
Assisi III: View from Rocca Maggiore (Hilltop Castle) July 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 30” x 26”, $650 unframed.
Cortona Views September 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 26” x 32”, $2250 framed.
Orvieto I, from La Badia July 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 26” x 32”, $650
Orvieto II: to La Badia, July 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 26” x 30”, $650 unframed.
Urbino I: View from Palace Garden July 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 32” x 26”, $650 unframed.
Urbino III: Palace Garden July 2016 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 26” x 32”, $650 unframed.
There is also a small notebook with ten studies, 9″ x 11/5″, from these various hill towns. Here are two examples. The entire notebook would be $1000.
Cortona Memory View 6/12/16 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 9” x 11.5”, $100
Lucca, 6/19 and 6/25/16 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 9” x 11.5”, $100
Lucca September 2013, pastel and pencil on Arches paper 26” x 32” $600 unframed.
In December 2004, our family went to Italy as part of a house-swap. We landed in Milan and immediately went to Vigevano, a small town nearby. When we followed the walking Italians after dinner, we discovered inspiring medieval and Renaissance architecture designed, in part, by Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci. I was inspired after this visit to attempt architecture in the drawing as I worked up a Harrod lecture for Fitchburg State entitled “Inspiration from Vigevano, Italy: Bramante, Leonardo da Vinci and the Stables of the Sforza Duke.”
Vigevano Magic: Falconry, Dusk2005 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 25’ x 37 ½” $650 unframed.
Vigevano II: “da Vinci” Stables2005 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 27 ½’ x 31” $650 unframed.
Vigevano Stables III: Stables of the Duke of Sforza, 14th Century 2005 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 27 ½” x 34 ½” $650 unframed.
Streets of Florence, Italy 2005 pastel and pencil on Arches paper 29” x 25” $650.00 unframed.