by Dianne Hales | Feb 25, 2020 | art, art history, Books, history, Italy, Rome, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
This year marks the 340th anniversary of the death of one of Italy’s most passionate and productive artists: Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). Over his long career, he emerged as the Michelangelo of his time, a master sculptor, architect, painter, city planner,...
by Dianne Hales | Feb 4, 2020 | art, art history, Books, books on Italy, Florence, history, Italy, Language, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Six hundred years ago, in 1420, construction began on one of the world’s architectural marvels: the long-unfinished dome of Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Winning the commission for this task proved almost as challenging as the work itself for Filippo...
by Dianne Hales | Jan 28, 2020 | art, art history, Books, books on Italy, culture, Florence, history, Italy, Language, Rome, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
This year marks the 500th anniversary of the death of a Renaissance painter hailed for achieving graziosissima grazia, the most graceful grace. Raphael of Urbino, born in 1483, was talented, affable, kind and drop-dead gorgeous. Raphael’s artistic genius sprang from...
by Dianne Hales | Jul 24, 2019 | art, Books, books on Italy, culture, history, Italy, Language, Travel, Tuscany, Web/Tech, Weblogs
“You look at us with virgin eyes.” I wasn’t sure I was translating the Italian correctly, so the gentleman at one of my readings in Florence continued in English. “We Italians focus on our country’s problems, and we lose sight of the beauty that surrounds us, the...
by Dianne Hales | Jun 16, 2019 | art, Books, books on Italy, culture, history, Italy, Language, Religion, Travel, Tuscany, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Two years ago I’d never even heard of Castiglion Fiorentino, a postcard-pretty town near Cortona, but when I arrived for my first visit, everyone seemed to know my name. Posters featuring the cover of LA PASSIONE: How Italy Seduced the World dotted the streets. “Is...
by Dianne Hales | Jun 3, 2019 | art, Books, books on Italy, culture, Food and Drink, history, Italy, Language, Music, Rome, Travel, Tuscany, Uncategorized, Venice, Web/Tech, Weblogs, wine
Imagine a world without Italy: Painting without Leonardo. Sculpture without Michelangelo. Literature without Dante. No Verdi choruses or Puccini arias. No Fellini films or Ferrari roar. Heavens uncharted, vines unplanted, tables bereft of pasta, pizza, and a Sicilian...
