by Penny | 31 Jan, 2023 | Books, Curious Connections, Florentine History, Medieval History, News, Religious History, Renaissance Art, Social History, Stuart family history, The Medici
Family Stuart connections with the Medici Family Elizabeth Stuart painted by English court painter Robert Peake in 1603 I have recently been reading a book by Nadine Akkerman about the life of Elizabeth Stuart (1596-1662)- the only daughter of James 1 King of the...
by Penny | 8 Mar, 2021 | Advancing Women Artists AWA, Florentine History, News, Painting, Religious Symbolism, Renaissance Art, Rome - Eternal City, Social History, Women artists
Lavinia Fontana painting of the Maselli family Lavinia Fontana (born 24/81552 – died 11/8/1614) appears to me to have been the ideal artist to undertake this complicated family portrait. In the first place her father, Prospero Fontana, (1517-1521) was...
by Penny | 18 Aug, 2020 | Angels, Books, Florentine History, Footnotes from Florence, Fresco painting, Painting, recommended reading, Renaissance Art
I could not ever deny being a huge fan of English writer E.M. Forster – in particular, I love both his Italian themed novels, I think that Where Angels Fear to Tread sums up the Anglo-Italian liaison with frightening accuracy but I was most touched in my...
by Penny | 24 Oct, 2019 | 1966 Flood, Activities, Advancing Women Artists AWA, Exhibitions, Florentine History, Plautilla Nelli, Religious History, Religious Symbolism, Renaissance Art, Saints, Social History, The Last Supper, Women artists
Ladies, Imagine for a moment that you are a true child of the Renaissance, living in Florence in the Cinquecento! You live with your wealthy family in quite a large palazzo, most probably beautifully decorated inside, with wall hangings and upholstery made of...
by Penny | 30 Apr, 2019 | Designer tiles, Exhibitions, Modern Art, News, Photography, Silverpoint, UK Activity
26th April 2019 Sir Peter Blake surges on as the Artist in Conversation at The Royal Academy Sir Peter Blake It is always a privilege to see an icon in the flesh and I knew that Sir Peter Blake now needed a stick to get around these days – but had no doubt that...
by Penny | 24 Feb, 2019 | Brexit, Brexit fallout, Cooking, Florentine paper, Fresco painting, Garden tours, Painting, Silverpoint
The Leavers Lament is often “You Lost! Why can’t you just accept this fact and deal with it?” The Remainer’s problem with this suggestion is that it is not so simple! Leavers woke up on 26th June 2016 looking towards what they imagine is a...
