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 | 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 | 19 Jun, 2020 | Advancing Women Artists AWA, Artemesia Gentileschi, Books, British Royal family, Florentine History, Footnotes from Florence, Italian Law, News, Plautilla Nelli, poets and poetry, Social History, Women artists
A.G. “Is that really you Plautilla? It is so difficult to recognise you when the only image of you that I have is a blanked out face in the corner of one of your frescos”. Whatever were you trying to say about yourself when you painted that? Plautilla...
by Penny | 10 Apr, 2018 | Books, Florentine History, Florentine money, News, Religious History, Renaissance Art, Restoration, Saints, Social History, The Medici
Henrietta Maria and the Medici link to the Mantua Collection This is my personal idea – based on my knowledge of the Medici Family history and their integration across Europe through prestigious marriages. My ideas were Inspired by Charles I: King and Collector...
by Penny | 10 Jan, 2018 | Advancing Women Artists AWA, Books, Exhibitions, Florentine History, Modern Art, Painting, Social History, WW2
Jeanne Modigliani (29 November 1918 – 27 July 1984) I have updated an earlier Blog as a result of the increased interest in Amedeo Modigliani aroused by the splendid current exhibition at Tate Modern (23 Nov -2 April 2018) Not the least part of the increased...
by Penny | 3 May, 2017 | Books, Garden tours, News, Social History, The Art of Writing, Tours, Tuscan gardens, WW2
A day trip to La Foce & DopoLavoro La Foceand Montepuliciano. DopoLavoro La Foce is a restaurant, lodged in a building that formed part of the grounds of Anthony and Iris Origo’s estate in Val D’Orcia. It was originally the place where their farm...
