2025

 

 

May 2025

 

May 2025:

Wayne Thiebaud Art

&

Joan of Arc 

Exhibitions

Legion of Honor Museum

San Francisco

California 

Wayne Thiebaud was an American artist who lived an artistic and colorful life and also had the art of living a useful long life for 101 years. He started his work at Walt Disney Studios drawing Pinocchio. He worked as a cartoonist and a painter. He was interested in paintings colorful foods and pastries.

He was a cartoonist in heart and making fun of everything & everyone including himself in a polite and good natured manner. Even he mentioned stealing the ideas for creating arts from the artists in the past and he included himself too. Once he said:”Art comes from art and nothing else.”

When in 2020 he reached 100, he painted a self portrait as a clown and called it “One-Hundred-Year-Old Clown”. By depicting a clown he meant both tragedy and comedy as the clowns are: they are basically sad comedians. People watching them and laughing but at the same time they feel a sadness too.

As he himself put it, he was always trying to depict memories and perceptions in his art. In his paintings of still arts he was influenced by Italian painter, Giorgio Morandi. In Buffet he painted with a “bird’s eye” perspective: delicious food, fish, poultry, fruits, salads and pastries.

 

His masterpiece that drew much attention and admiration from the visitors is “Five Seated Figures” painted in 1965. He directly and cruelly shows the self alienation of modern times. It shows five members of a family seated very closely together but with expressionless faces and the body languages that shows they strongly ignoring each other. They are physically very close but emotionally and spiritually very very far. Lack of communication and understanding between these five is quite obvious. He skillfully shows the modern men and women in the mirror. Wayne Thiebaud painted this painting 60 years ago in 1965; just imagine how portraying 2025 would be: smart phones in hands and ignoring each other and lack of understanding, care and sensitivity. Something like the painting by Michael James in 2020.

The Story of Joan of Arc series by Jean Paul Laurens is amazing. A masterpiece series depicting the life, trial and execution of Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc or Jeanne d’Arc is a Patron Saint of France because of her role in the One Hundred Years War saving France from the English domination. She was captured by English, was put on trial and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431 when she was just an innocent teenager: 19 years old.

Jean Paul Laurens was a French history painter created the capture, trial and execution of Joan of Arc in a wonderful tapestry series in 1905.  These magnificent series are tapestries series in silk and wool and are part of collection of Legion of Honor in San Francisco.

There are many notable masterpieces in the permanent collection of the museum such as “The Tribute Money” by Peter Paul Rubens painted in 1610.

 

“The Fortune Teller” by Jacques Louis David painted in 1824.

 

“Allegory of Geometry” by Laurent de La  Hyre painted in 1649.

The 17th century bronze sculpture by Michel Anguier called “Hercules and Atlas” is part of the permanent collection of the museum.

 

Legion of Honor museum is a must see cultural place for the people who enjoy culture. It has a very pleasant environment and green surroundings that makes it perfect for a day of culture and nature. The museum has some collection that is very useful for learning about the past through works of art that is both educational and entertaining. It can make our ordinary life more colorful, meaningful and fulfilling.(C)CTR Press

 

 

 

 

 

April 2025:

Padua , Arezzo, Vicenza & Bergamo

Museums

Italy

 

 

 

 

Padua

1. Cappella degli Scrovegni

2. Palazzo Del Bo

3. Palazzo della Ragione

It is not the case that when you go to Padua, then visiting Cappella degli Scrovegni. But the other way around, if you are really interested in the Renaissance art and culture, it is essential to visit Giotto’s masterpiece: Cappella degli Scrovegni; so you need to go to Padua.

This Ghiotto’s wonderful artwork was commissioned by Enrico Scrovegni as a place of prayer. From 1303 to 1305, Giotto frescoed the entire interior. Giotto who was influenced by Dante created an extraordinary innovative artwork that was unprecedented. For the first time, he emphasized the facial expressions on the characters in his painting. The blue ceiling is dreamy and shows the reflection of Halley’s Comet that in 1301 crossed the Padua’s skies.

Giotto portrayed the personalities of the city’s public life in the medieval times. Giotto, like Dante, was politically active. Giotto’s mastery of paintings was like a skilled director that  shows his characters’ feelings and emotions in his works. There is no passivity in Giotto’s art and his characters are emotionally active and it was a real innovation in the art of the 14th century. The colors in Giotto’s art play a special role. White that is considered the color of God also plays a main role in his paintings.

The facial expressions of Christ and his hand gestures are priceless; no doubt that Giotto deserves all the praise he receives from art critics to historians. Caravaggio, Correggio, Raphael, Da Vinci, Reni, Botticelli, Allori, Lomi, Vasari and Giotto are the master painters of Italian Renaissance.

 

 

Palazzo Del Bo

 

Bo palace is the headquarter of the university of Padua since 1500s. It was built in 1222 that makes it one of the oldest European universities. The presence of the exceptional characters  such as Galilei and Copernicus during the history of the university of Padua gives it a special prestige.

The first woman in the world was graduated in the university of Padua in 1678. Bo Palace has been a special place for art, culture and science during different periods of the history. The interior of the university was designed by Gio Ponti. The frescoes on the walls are by Pino Casarini. In the original university school of art and law there are busts of Galileo and Copernicus.

The impressive paintings by  Gian Giacomo Dal Forno who was an Italian artist and was born in 1909, in the library of the University are admirably colored. The composition of colors in portraying the international philosophers, scientists and painters who studied in Padua is striking.

 

The Palazzo della Ragione

 

It was constructed in 1219. And the purpose was to create a meeting space for the city assembly. There are admirably beautiful frescoes on the walls that fascinates the viewers. Each fresco tells a story.

The building is one of the oldest European covered market. Each sign and fresco has a special meaning and there are many zodiac signs as well as saint and allegorical characters.

 

 

 

 

Arezzo

1. Casa Vasari

2. Museo Civico , National Museum of Medieval Art

Casa Vasari

 

It is an interesting museum in Arezzo. It was the family house of Giorgio Vasari, the famous art historian and painter. There are many frescoes and paintings on display. In 1550, Vasari moved to this house with his wife and decorated the walls and ceilings with frescoes. There are also some paintings by Alessandro Allori, Santiago di Tito and other painters that add to the beauty of the museum. There is a valuable Vasari Archive that contains his correspondence and documents, but this section is not open to the public.

In the room of “Arts and Fame”, on the ceiling there is a beautiful painting “Allegory of Fame”. Allegory of arts shows four females representing poetry, painting, sculpture and architecture.

The ceiling in the room of “Triumph of Virtue” is breathtaking in the beauty and grace. It shows the allegories of Virtue, Fortune and Envy in three feminine figures. It portrays the overcoming of virtue in conquering fortunes by symbolically keeping her hair and subduing envy by symbolically putting her foot on it.

 

 

Museo Civico

 

It has many magnificent artworks in the collection. The statue of  San Michele (Saint Michael) an early 14th century statue excavated from the Angel’s Gate in the Fortress of Arezzo. It depicts the act of killing the dragon by San Michele. It is an amazing statue that was kept in the Angel’s Gate of the Arezzo Fortress that was built in the 11th century.

Giorgio Vasari, 1549

 

Arezzo was very clean and well managed. There were signs on every corners of the streets and roads that guided visitors through their journeys to the museums, churches and cultural institutions. And Arezzo has an initiative to fine any people who don’t clean his or her dog’s waste: 100 euros fine. The result was very satisfactory, the roads and passages were very clean and waste free. 

Vicenza

1. Teatro Olimpico

2. Museo Civico

 

Theatro Olimpico

 

Theatro Olimpico definitely is a must visit. It was created in 1585 by Andrea Palladio. It is so beautiful that takes the breath of the visitors away. It is the oldest roofed theatre in the world. All the design and architecture are derived from the ancient Roman and Greek theaters.

Vincenzo Scamozzi designed the fantastic perspective scenery of the “Streets of Thebes”. Scamozzi was an Italian architect that moved to Venice in 1600 and then visited France. His book , Discorsi Sopra d’antichità di Roma, 1583 is hugely popular among the architectural communities. In Venice, he designed Procuratie Nuove on the Piazza San Marco. His greatest achievement was the design in the Olympic Theater.

 

 

Civic Art Gallery of Palazzo Chiericati

 

Civic Art Gallery of Palazzo Chiericati is located on the front of the Olympic Theater and the visitors would have a chance to visit these two impressive cultural places on the same day. Again Andrea Palladio designed the Palazzo Chiericati, and it is a masterpiece. He designed it for Chiericati, a nobleman from Vicenza. It has beautifull surroundings such as Retrone rivers. Palladio used the column and double loggia on the facade and created a masterpiece full of empty spaces.

It has the collection of very prestigious European paintings.

On the top of the staircase, visitors have a chance to see one of the hidden gems of the museum: Maestro Del Dossale di Santa Maria in Organò (1346) ,  Pergamo with Saint Michael the Archangel and a devotee is a 14th century sculpture uniquely designed and colored.

Domenico Peterlin ( 1822-1897), Italian artist painted “Dante in Exile”. It shows Dante sitting absorbed in deep thought. The portray of Dante’s facial expression is masterful. This powerful painting shows Dante in exile in Ravenna.

Then there is a masterpiece by Zanetti that demonstrating Dante and Beatrice in the Empyrean. The tenth and the last Heaven in which God, Angels and the Blessed have their seats.

 

 

Bergamo

1. Academia Carrera 

2. Mura di Bergamo, San Michele al Pozzo Bianco, Palazzo Moroni
   
   Santa Maria Maggiore

Academia Carrera is the main museum in Bergamo. Giacomo Carrara established this cultural institution with the aim of combining the leisure with education. And indeed it is a cultural institution with a very pleasant environment. The visitors have a chance to visit the galleries in the museum and view the masterpieces from talented renaissance artists first hand.

 

Academia Carrera is the main museum in Bergamo. Giacomo Carrara established this cultural institution with the aim of combining the leisure with education. And indeed it is a cultural institution with a very pleasant environment. The visitors have a chance to visit the galleries in the museum and view the masterpieces from talented renaissance artists first hand.

 

 

Saint Michael by Bartolomeo Vivarini 1488 is a rare masterpiece that shows the spirit of Saint Michael in a vivid and fantastic way. The combination of colors and the hand gestures are priceless. The highly determined and handsome face of San Michele adds to the depth of the artwork.

The series paintings by Sandro Botticelli attracting the attention and interest from the visitors. Botticelli painted “The story of Virginia” in 1505. He used the technique of depicting different moments of the life of Virginia in the continuous narrative paintings and the beauty of it is portraying all in one frame in an admirable way. It tells the story of Claudius Crassus’s desire to declare Virginia a slave and it ends tragically. The colors are strong and facial expressions are intense, all adds to the intensity of the situation.

The paintings by Giovan Battista Moroni are impressive. He had an extraordinary talent for painting the portraits. He painted in a realistic and natural manner. They all look natural and real. The sculpture by Pietro Bernini in marble, made in 1615 is sublime. It shows Virtue subjugates Vice.

The curators of the museum have arranged the works of art in good taste and order. Each artwork has its useful descriptions written and placed on a display that helps visitors better understand and contemplate the paintings.

There is also an interesting initiative by the museum to wallpaper the passages the visitors walk; as the visitors climbing the stairs to reach the galleries, all the walls and ceilings are covered by different lively and strong colored wallpapers depicting nature and classics. It is very pleasing experience that prepares the visitors for a wonderful cultural journey.

After visiting beautiful paintings you can go to the Garden Cafe of the museum. It is very tranquil and refreshing with very delicious and healthy sandwiches. You will end your cultural journey beautifully and some visitors went to the Ticket Office to express their satisfaction with their visit. If you have time , it would be a great idea to visit twice; first visit to take pictures and the second visit to contemplate and enjoy the real work of art.

Mura di Bergamo

Mura di Bergamo is a museum with multimedia collections and installations introducing the fascinating route and takes the visitors to walk along five kilometers of the Venetian Walls. It is an unforgettable journey and you will visit a variety of monuments along the road. It starts with gate of Sant’Agostino, then Bulwark of San Michele continuing with other interesting monuments and ending with Bulwark of Fara. Along the way, the visitors experience amazing views; then it comes Palazzo Moroni, a must visit site.

San Michele church is unique in its beautiful frescoes. It originated in the 8th century and developed throughout six centuries. Its frescoes on the wall are oldest in Bergamo. The ambiance is heavenly and in the basement, there are some small cells with stone walls and no windows. There are many frescoes of Saints and angels , as well as the frescoes of Three Graces.

Palazzo Moroni

Palazzo Moroni’s garden is so tranquil with breathtaking views of Bergamo. The wild flowers and bees produce its unique honey. It can be purchased in Ticket Office. It tastes special because of the wild flowers of the region and it is pure. The visitors are allowed to stroll in the beautiful gardens and stay there during the opening hours of the museum. It should not be missed especially after walking through the rooms of the Palace and viewing the beautiful paintings; some were painted by Giovanni Batista Moroni himself, a master of painting people’s portraits.

Santa Maria Maggiore

 

The Basilica was built in 1311 by people of Bergamo. It has a stunning architecture and magnificent interior. The tapestries on the walls portraying different stories from Crucifixion to the Passage of the Red Sea.

There is a fascinating fresco of the Last Supper that attracts the attention of visitors.  There are lots of interesting artworks in wood that originated in 14th century.

This Basilica a must see place for all the cultural enthusiasts. On the weekend its treasure museum is open to the public and should not be missed.

 

Combining Culture and Nature makes an unbelievably unique experience for the visitors. It transcends the taste of individuals. After a while they would detest cheap and poor quality entertainment that they usually get from the social media and TikTok. They would see things differently and they can breathe fresh air of personal choice and freedom. 
(C)CTR Press

Bergamo Archeological Museum 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2025:

Pisa Duomo and museums

Palazzo Blu

Museo Nazionale di San Matteo

Pisa, Italy

Pisa, like other cities in Italy, is a beautiful and elegant place. You can walk along the river and enjoy the elegance of the classic architecture of the buildings. Italy has preserved the classic architecture of its cities. People can have very modern design inside their buildings, but outside should remain elegant and classic in the historic buildings. And that makes Italy unique.

 

Tower of Pisa is unique and amazing. It is known for its four degree lean as the result of an unstable foundation. It is one of the most visited attractions in the world. It is also an architectural icon of Italy. Its leaning started during the construction in the 12th century. According to Giorgio Vasari, Guglielmo and Bonanno laid the foundations of the bell tower. Most of the efforts of restoring the tower to a vertical position failed. There is another leaning tower in Pisa. It is located in the church of San Michele surrounding. It is an amazing monument.

The Piazza del Duomo is the main tourist and cultural attraction of Pisa. In addition to the Pisa Tower, it includes the main Cathedral, Camposanto, Sinopie Museum, and Baptistery. Duomo di Pisa is a medieval Catholic Cathedral that is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Pisa. Its fantastic architecture is Pisan Romanesque. It goes back to the year 1063 that its construction started. It is a unique sight especially with the leaning Tower of Pisa nearby. In the 12th century, the enlargement of the cathedral began. In December 1187, papal election took place in the Pisa Cathedral. One of the magnificent features of its exterior is the central door with all beautifully made inscriptions and designs on the heavy bronze material. The interior design is breathtaking, its ceiling is painted and decorated with gold leaf made by Bartolomeo Atticciati.

The granite columns are beautifully decorated and giving an elegant appearance to the interior. Cimabue in 1302 made the large mosaic of Christ and it was miraculously survived the fire of 1595. The Pulpit, a unique masterpiece created by Giovanni Pisano attracting the attention and admiration of the visitors, also survived the fire of 1595. The paintings on the walls, especially those three by Aurelio Lomi is wonderful and adds to the beauty of the Cathedral.

The CampoSanto is the historical edifice of the Cathedral Square. Its construction was started in 1278 by Giovanni di Simone. In its Aulla Chapel, the original lamp that Galileo Galilei used for calculations is on display. CampoSanto contains a huge collection of Roman sarcophagi and Etruscan sculptures. The frescoes on the walls are unique and impressive. Those frescoes painted by Buffalmacco are extraordinary. They are linked to the Last Judgment and demonstrate the eternal condemnation in inferno as shown in Dante’s masterpiece: The Divine Comedy. It shows Lucifer, a three-headed monster devouring the sinners and then excreting them in a subterranean world filled with serpents, demons and pain. All around him, there are ape-like demons and snakes tormenting the greedy, hypocrites, gluttonous, violent and snaky creatures. It depicts Hell where the Devil enjoys tormenting the damned. The entrance is through immense mouth of a serpent, the animal that symbolizes the Devil: (Genesis 3: 14-15). It is a horrifying fresco that shocks the viewers, but it makes them to ponder about its deep meaning and to understand the symbolic significance of the painting that was based on a philosophical and literary masterpiece: Dante’s Divine Comedy. Beside the Hell, it’s the depiction of Last Judgment and portraying Saint Michael who stands with his sword drawn, the chosen one who leads the fight against the Devil:(Rev. 12:7). A very powerful painting that makes a deep and lasting impression on the visitors.

 

Palazzo Blu museum is located on the southern bank of the Arno river. In the past it was called the Giuli Rosselmini Gualandi palace and was inhabited by the most prominent families of Pisa. The museum is divided into three sections: Foundations, Art Collection and Aristocratic Dwelling. The museum has the rare masterpiece of Agnano polyptych by Cecco di Pietro. The painter was a prominent artist in the 14th century in Pisan Gothic art. A copy of this masterpiece was created in 1936 by the forger Federico Joni. During the WWII , the Tobler family moved the original painting of the 14th century to their home and replaced it with the copy to safeguard the original painting. And when the chapel was bombed during World War II, the copy was damaged. Other famous pieces in the museum collection include the paintings by Orazio Riminaldi , and Lomi family especially significant paintings by Aurelio Lomi and Artemisia Lomi. A rare painting by Guido Reni is also on display.

 

There is also an interesting exhibition on the World War II. There are lots of maps of the Europe during the World War and lots of interesting pictures taken by photojournalists during the war. Also the curator of the exhibition has added interesting details and explanations for the period that  are very informative and educational. The exhibition has an honest approach of the representing the history; it expresses the depth of knowledge about what happened during the World War and it respects the viewer to decide for themselves. The museum providing information about the history and let the visitors decide for themselves.

 

 

National Museum of San Matteo in Pisa is displaying artworks from early medieval period to 17th century. Also it has a masterpiece by Aurelio Lomi : Miracolo di San Francesco, 1611. It is a unique painting by Lomi. The striking hand gestures and facial expressions in the painting making the viewer wonder about the underlying emotions and feelings that the artist trying to portray.

Also the rare painting by Ambito Pisano, Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in the 16th century is a very powerful painting that tells the story of Saint Caterina. There are some very interesting sculptures from the eleventh century that previously located in the Church of San Francesco in Pisa. When our journalist had some questions about the artworks, the director of the museum was very helpful and and gave valuable informations about the history of the museum and its permanent collections in Pisa. (C)CTR Press

 

Madonna and Child by Dominico Ghirlandaio 

 

 

 

 

March 2025:

Correggio in Parma

La Nuova Pilotta Museum

&

Parma Cathedral

Parma, Italy

 

 

For understanding Correggio’s unique artistic talent, visiting Parma could be the best choice. You encounter his beautiful and magnificent paintings almost everywhere: in the Cathedral, churches, art museums and monuments. Antonio Allegri de Coraggio (1489-1534) was the leading painter of Parma school and he was an inspiration for the great Italian painter, Caravaggio. He painted in Baroque style. One of his masterpieces is the decoration of the dome of the Cathedral of Parma. He used a highly illusionistic technique: sotto in Su, from down to up. His novel style highly influenced the fresco painters of the following generations. Complesso Monumentale, La Nuova Pilotta is the main museum compound in Parma and has many masterpieces of Italian artists on display. Its collections of Correggio is impressive and unique.

The Complex Museum is composed of The Palazzo della Pilotta, The Farnese Theatre, The National Archeological Museum, The National Gallery, Palatine Library and The Bodoni Museum. The visitors need at least two full days to be able to visit all the compounds properly. It is very impressive and enjoyable experience for the visitors who appreciate culture and arts.

The Pilotta Palace’s history goes back to 1583 during the last years of the Duchy of Ottavio Farnese. The complex’s name is taken from the game of “Pelota” that was played by the nobles in the Courtyards. During those times, it housed the Ducal collections of paintings and an impressive library.

 

The Farnese Theater was built in 1618 and it is considered as the first modern theater in the Western world. It was designed by Giovane Battista Aleotti who created the first enclosed space for theatrical performances with technical system of moving sceneries.

The Parma National Archeological Museum is one of the oldest museums in Italy. It was established in 1760. The foundation of the Academy of Fine Arts in 1752 was based on the Enlightenment Principles.The Bodoni Museum is one of the most impressive museums in Europe and it hosts the rare masterpieces.

Correggio 500 is celebrating the 500 years of frescoes painted on the dome of the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista by Antonio Allegra from Correggio, who worked on it from 1520 to 1524. Its trails go to the Benedictine Monastery of San Giovanni Evangelista since the 10th century and to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

In 1500, the dominance of Milan over Parma was weakening. Farnese, the Bishop of Parma from 1509 to 1534 opened way to Florence and Rome powerhouse. Then in 1545, he became the Pope and took the name Paolo III. In the year 1522, Correggio frescoed the magnificent Coronation of the Virgin. The celebrated Farnese Collection includes the masterpieces from Correggio, Michelangelo Anselmi, Raphael, Titian, El Greco and Dosso.

 

Visitors have a chance to view the elegant paintings by Annibale Carracci and other artists influenced by Correggio and Caravaggio. There are two paintings of The Last Supper by Schedoni that look very similar with the slightest difference and capture the attention and admiration of the visitors. Another celebrated painting of The Last Supper in Parma is by Alessandro Araldi and is a copy of The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci that still is in the refectory of the convent of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan.

The frescoes by Correggio is breathtaking in its beauty that is a reflect of his unique talent and understanding of human nature and history. Michael the Archangel fighting the Devil is one of the jewels of the museum and it has been painted by Dosso Dossi in 1533. The dominance of Caravaggio’s paintings and Correggio’s paintings and style is obvious in many of paintings collections. The hand gestures, composition of light and color and facial expressions in the paintings are unique and very impressive. Head of a Woman Called Scapiliata by Leonardo Da Vinci is another unique treasure on display in the museum collection.

 

The atmosphere is very vibrant and the tour guides talking in different languages passionately talk about each work of art. There is a good opportunity for the viewers to participate in the process by reflecting on the depth and beauty of each piece of art that are the best evidence of different period of history, not been contaminated with any kind of political influence. (C)CTR Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

To those who appreciate art:

You can donate to the “Renaissance Art Project”; there is no minimum or maximum amount.

Click on the following link and scroll down the page and click on the painting to donate to the art project: https://ctrtranslation.com/

The donors will receive the full details of the art project.

 

 

 

 

 

February 2025:

 

sculptures

Alessandro Algardi

&

Bonifacio Galluzzi

 

 

Museo Civico Medievale Bologna

Bologna, Italy

 

 

Museo Civico Medievale Bologna is a hidden gem in Bologna. It is one of the most interestinpg Medieval museums in Italy. It has amazing sculptures from the 14th & 15th centuries. There are some rare sculptures from Pietro Canonici, Jacopo della Quercia, Bonifacio Galluzzi , Pietro Cerniti, Bonandrea de Bonandrei, Giovanni  de Andrea, Andrea da Fiesole and Giovanni da Legnano. And the senior (in age) staffs are unbelievably well informed and express their interesting and valid opinions like an art critic.

Unfortunately among all those magnificent sculptures, the visitors encountered with some “out of place” so called modern art on display; apparently it had been decided by a young curator as a way to increase the audience, but unaware that it also changing the spirit of a medieval museum. 

 

 

 

Alessandro Algardi (1594-1654) was an Italian Baroque sculptor, born in Bologna and artistically active in Rome. His marble and bronze statues depict emotional expressions. His masterpiece is statue of Saint Michael ( San Michele) that is on display in Museo Civico Medievale Bologna. That is a rare beauty, one of the shining art pieces in the museum. Unfortunately the sword of Saint Michale is missing! According to the art historians, Guido Reni, the wonderful Italian painter, was inspired by Algardi’s art while he was painting San Michele.

Saint Michael by Alessandro Algardi

Bonifacio Galluzzi’s sculptures are alive; the hand gestures and facial expressions are brilliant; they clearly reveal the spirit of the 14th century Bologna. They talk to the viewers; they demonstrate the deep intelligence and understanding of the artist. By visiting Museo Civico Medievale Bologna, visitors have a chance to view and feel the scholarly spirit of the 14th century. (C)CTR Press

 

 

 

To those who appreciate art:

You can donate to the “Renaissance Art Project”; there is no minimum or maximum amount.

Click on the following link and scroll down the page and click on the painting to donate to the art project: https://ctrtranslation.com/

The donors will receive the full details of the art project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2025:

 

Il Cinquecento A Ferrara

Dosso and Garofalo

Exhibition

 

Ferrara Palazzo dei Diamanti

Ferrara, Italy

 

 

 

Ferrara Palazzo dei Diamanti mostra is a must see exhibition. It is very well organized and marvelous paintings by Dosso Dossi and Garofalo on display has made it an exceptional exhibition for the culture enthusiasts. Giovanni di Niccolò de Luteri known as Dosso Dossi (1489-1542) was an Italian Renaissance painter whose style was part of the School of Ferrara. His brother was trained in the Roman workshop of Raphael. He worked with Garofalo in polyptych. He followed Correggio’s style of paintings and added originality to it with his own ideas for creating the masterpieces of art.

One of Dosso’s  masterpieces in the exhibition is Jupiter Painting Butterflies, Mercury and Virtue. It is so serene and beautiful that makes the viewer wondering if this is a creation of a human being! All the parts of the paintings are related in a heavenly manner; the composition of the colors are unbelievably realistic and beautiful; the body languages and facial expressions of the characters in the paintings are mysteriously sensational. This painting by Dosso has a unique charm that captivates the hearts and minds of the viewers, especially those who are not contaminated by the so called modern artificialities! Those who have the blessing of enjoying the real beauties can gain a lot from the viewing this unique masterpiece.

From 1520s, Dosso presented a very unique style distinguished from others. In his paintings, the elements of politics, mythology and literature are blended in a very strong manner and that’s what makes them unique.

 

 

Garofalo demonstrated more fascination with classical style. He had a specific elegant style in portraying his manneristic paintings. Garofalo (1481- 1559) was a Renaissance Mannerist Italian painter of the School of Ferrara. He painted both in oil and in fresco. The elegance is striking in his paintings. He portrayed various female characters, from Callisto to Syringa; from Pandora to Semele.

 

 

The exhibition curators and designers have done a fantastic job; they divided the exhibition into two different spaces and between them there was a very tranquil space that the visitors walked through a quiet outdoor space with some trees and birds: very refreshing indeed. Then when they walked indoor they could see the Crown Jewel of the exhibition: Dosso’s Jupiter Painting Butterflies, Mercury and Virtue. And definitely it was a Wow factor. (C)CTR Press

 

 

 

To those who appreciate art:

You can donate to the “Renaissance Art Project”; there is no minimum or maximum amount.

Click on the following link and scroll down the page and click on the painting to donate to the art project: https://ctrtranslation.com/

The donors will receive the full details of the art project.

 

 

 

 

February 2025:

 

 

The unique painter, Caravaggio

&

The marvelous poet, Giovan Battista Marino

&

The relationship between painting and literature

 

 

 

 

Galleria Borghese

Rome, Italy

 

 

 

Caravaggio as a highly talented painter and Marino as a highly skilled poet had faced the similar challenges and had been praised for their artistic and literary achievements. Caravaggio is cherished in the poem “Il tempio” and in “Adone”. And according to the curators at Galleria Borghese, Caravaggio  created painting of Marino that had been lost and there is no trace of it. Apparently it is in the hands of the private collectors.

Caravaggio’s paintings have a unique quality of capturing the attention of the audience and captivating the viewers’ hearts and souls . There are many other painters such as Dosso, Garofalo, Raphael, Giotto, Reni and Botticelli whose paintings are extraordinarily beautiful and captivating, but Caravaggio transcends all. Galleria Borghese has many Caravaggio’s masterpieces on display. The main one is “Madonna dei Palafrenieri”. An amazing painting by Caravaggio that portraying Madonna and Child crushing the Serpent. It was painted in 1606. The striking composition of colors, the magnificent use of light and shade, the sharpness of the facial expressions and the smartness of the message of the painting make it a Caravaggio’s artwork.

Giovani Battista Marino was an Italian poet who was most famous for his epic poetry L’Adone. He was very famous and his style was widely imitated in Italy, France and Spain. His father was a highly cultured lawyer and both father and son were very much interested in the philosophical views of Giordano Bruno and Torquato Tasso. In Adone, Marino quotes passages from Dante’s Divine Comedy and Tasso. Also he wrote “La Strage degli Innocenti”, (The Massacre of the Innocents).

Both geniuses were highly admired and created the artistic and literary works that have been survived since 17th century and will continue to captivate the viewers and readers. Both were highly talented and honest people and both were highly admired beyond the Italian borders ; Both of them faced many difficulties with the authorities, both experienced several imprisonments, they had highly eventful and volatile lives and both faced premature death during the eventful years of the beginnings of 17th century during James I reign.

 

The exhibition in the Galleria Borghese focuses on the relationship between the art and literature in the early 17th century when the Baroque paintings and literature were born. In the “Galeria”, a collection of poetry where each poem corresponds to a real artwork was published in 1619. At first, Marino aimed in creating a drawing for each 624 poems. Marino was interested in Caravaggio’s paintings and relating them to the themes of his poems. One of them is “Susanna and the Elders” that has been painted by many painters and apparently the Caravaggio’s one isn’t traceable.

There are many fantastic paintings and artworks in Galleria Borghese. The atmosphere is amazing and there is interesting arrangements of the exhibition’s materials. The information about the artworks are educational and useful. It was obvious that people were captivated by the surrounding artworks.

(C)CTR Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2025:

 

Castel Sant’Angelo

 

Three exhibitions:

 

1. Forme Colori dall’ Italia preromana

2. Papi E Santi Marchigiani

3. Marcello Mastroianni

Castel Sant’Angelo

 

Rome, Italy

 

 

 

Three marvelous exhibitions in the magnificent Castle of Saint Michael in the eternal city of Rome attracting the culture enthusiasts to visit and enjoy the novelty and beauty of these exhibitions.

During 4th century B.C., some pottery painters from the Greek colony of Taranto moved to Canosa to creat multicolored pottery for decorations. They created the pottery with the original inspiration by the frescoes and paintings on the walls of buildings. They used rich and happy colors and an original technique: painting the images, firing the vases and then cooling them; all done using natural colors. They depicted women, holy images, and imaginary shapes to demonstrate the transitions to the Afterlife.

According to the archaeologists, these colorful vases were not intended for the daily use, but they were designed for the special occasions such as displaying during funeral ceremonies in the tombs next to the deceased.  In the 4th century B.C. death was considered as a transition to the Afterlife. They used to cherish the period in the special ceremonies and they considered it as the final farewell ceremony. Women were powerful during those period and played very important roles throughout the ceremonies.

Vases in the shape of women’s heads is often present in the Canusian graves. Their heads were usually covered with the crowns and depicting a wide range of hairstyles and ornaments. Also there were the paintings of the winged women playing a variety of instruments. The artists used to portray each artifact with a specific facial expression to convey the feelings and emotions. At the end of funeral, the artifacts were left in the graves to safeguard the deceased throughout the journey and sometimes they were considered as means between the living and the dead. These artifacts demonstrate the gradual assimilation of funerary customs typical of the culture of Rome. The aristocracies of Canosa had formed alliances with this culture since 318 B.C.

Before its unification under the rule of Rome, numerous populations inhabited in the Italian territory. This exhibition shows the story of Dauni people through archaeological artifacts from Bari, Apulia and Taranto. Artifacts found in the temples, houses, tombs, baths and churches all preserved the memories from the prehistory to the Middle Ages.

Since the 19th century, the Roman national treasures and artifacts have been targeted by illegal international antiquities markets. The unique artifacts unearthed by illicit treasure hunters and sold in the marketplace such as London and finally becoming part of museums’ collections or ending up in the hands of private collectors. Some of the artifacts in the exhibition come from the operations carried out by the Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Carabinieri forces to counter illicit trade of the archaeological artifacts.

 

 

 

The exhibition Popes and Saints of the Marche at the Castel Sant’Angelo demonstrates a spectacular journey through art, history and spirituality in Rome and is a part of Jubilee 2025, largest event of faith and culture organized by the Catholic Church. It shows the spiritual roots of the Marche.

 

 

The exhibition of Marcello Mastroianni’s artistic life shows that his journey started from mid 1950s with playing in the theatre and then in cinema. His journey started from neorealism to the Italian comedy. Mastroianni played in 12 films with Sophia Loren. They had an extraordinary chemistry with each other. He worked with notable directors such as Mario Monicelli, Visconti and Fellini.

In part of the movie, “White Nights”, a free adoption of the novel by Dostoyevsky, directed by Visconti, Mastroianni plays a character overcome by the illusions of love. In the scene that he dances wildly and funnily demonstrates his unique talent in mastering the art of acting. Monicelli casted him to play in his comedy film: “Big Deal on Madonna Street”. In one of his interviews, Mastroianni touchingly says: “ Every time I won a prize, I thought of my mother.”

It was obvious that visitors were fascinated by their experience of visiting the Castel Sant’ Angelo and its new exhibitions. It was a unique cultural journey and an entertaining & fascinating experience not to be missed. A journey from the 4th century B.C. to the 17th and 18th century and finally to the twentieth century. (C)CTR Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2025

Mary Cassatt Exhibition

SF Art Museum, Legion of Honor

San Francisco, California

 

 

 

Mary Cassatt paintings are full of character. Her beautiful works of art reflect the personality and depth of her own character. All are full of emotions, dignity and characters. It was quite obvious that viewers were fascinated and captivated by her paintings. They demonstrate her talent and her perception of reality. The composition of colors are serene. Cassatt’s paintings communicate directly to each viewer: stirring up their emotions first, then assisting them to reach the stage of delicious calmness and finally to deep understanding of the uniquely artistic messages of Mary Cassatt.

 

Mary Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania, the US in 1844 and she lived most of her adult life in France. Her mother, Katherine Cassatt had an enormous influence on her, a very cultured lady, very well-read indeed. One of the close friends of the family, Havemeyer, once said : “Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Mary Cassatt’s mother would know at once that it was from her and her alone that (Mary) inherited her ability.” Mary was a close friend of Edgar Degas, the famous French painter. She was the most celebrated female artist of her time. Also Cassatt was a student of the master painter: Jean Léon Gérôme. Cassatt was one of the first female American painters to exhibit in Paris. Over the period of 50 years, she created over 380 pastels and 330 paintings.

 

 

 

 

 

In 1874, Cassatt opened an art studio in Paris. Mary Cassatt was a woman of integrity; she was very independent and outspoken. She criticized the politics of the Salon that some painters with connections could receive some favors from the jury. She criticized the connection-based criteria and she herself was after merit-based approaches. Her outspokenness costed her the refusal of her paintings for some exhibitions. She was at the low point of her career that Degas who was impressed by her character and her artistic talent, invited her to exhibit in the Impressionist Exhibition. They became close friends and had the similar tastes in the arts and literature and both were fiercely independent, also both were fascinated by the Italian paintings. After the impressionist exhibition, she was so happy and declared: “At last, I could work with absolute independence.”

 

Cassatt’s parents and her sister joined her in Paris and she made several fantastic portraits of them. Her intelligent mother who believed in the importance of the cultivating the intellectual abilities of women was painted while she was reading Le Figaro and some works of literature. Mary Cassatt’s  paintings had been focused on the importance of deeper understanding of inner life. She portrayed the love and intensity of the mother and child relationships, although she never had a child, but she had the pure emotions, mind power and intellect to understand beautiful and meaningful relationships. So as the result her paintings were and still are very appealing to the viewers.

 

Cassatt’ paintings of mother & child were often reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance depictions of Madonna and Child. After 1900, she exclusively worked on the depictions of the mother & child imagery. In 1904, France awarded her the Legion of Honor for her contribution to the arts. She was one of the rare souls who had deep understanding of the human nature, exceptionally artistic talent and strong character and integrity. Her works of arts continues to captivate the hearts and minds of people.(C)CTR Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press Reports 2024