Tuscan Table Painting Art

Dear Art-loving friend,

      There is comfort food and comfort art.  This next painting I share with you gives me a very peaceful feeling and memory.  I had gone with a close friend to the southwest region of Tuscany, to an area called Maremma.  She wanted to buy a tombstone for her late father who is buried in the area.  When we stopped to visit at the home some of her long-time family friends, I was struck by the light in the dining room and the rich wood of the table in front of old chairs and stone walls.  This room invited me.  I let them visit each other . . .

      “Tuscan Table” is one of my oil paintings on primed Italian-made heavy thick watercolor-like paper.  She is 74 x 54 cm (or 29 x 21 inches).  I will offer FREE worldwide shipping if you would like to buy this original work of art for your own home or the collection of another.

Just contact me via e-mail (sculptor@borsheimarts.com) or call (0039) 334.245.0129  [Italy].

Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm,

Kelly 

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

PS.  Happy birthday to my sweet sister Amber, founder of WhiskerWorks.com  http://whiskerworks.com/

Roman Roads Vulci Archeological Park Maremma Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

There are more than 120,000 kilometers of public roads in Europe, northern Africa, and beyond that date back to the 4th century B.C. and are attributed to the Romans. Millions have traveled these roads to exchange ideas and merchandise.

The Roman roads were typically built with layers of stone, all fitted in such a manner as to hold each neighboring stone in place. The roads were created by first cutting the path and then removing the dirt along that path.
• The base layer was called “statumen” and consisted of 30 cm high blocks of hard stone.
• The next layer “ruderatio” was another hard layer, but consisting of rounded stones held together by lime in a specific ratio (1:3).
• For the third layer, rows of blocks were placed along the edges of the roads and then the center was filled with gravel. This “pavimentum” was designed in such a way that the edge rocks were extended where the road widened, and served as a place to mount and dismount one’s horse.
• The “Lastricatura” was the final finishing layer and consisted of basalt, a volcanic material.

Roman roads even had mile markers and a system setup for maintenance. Every five to seven miles on public roads there were postal stations and areas set up for communication, as well as places in which to refresh the horses. Within a day’s travel by horseback one could pass six to eight of these stations. Thus, hotels and rest areas were also present along roadsides to accommodate weary travelers.

The images you see here in this post were ones that I took a few months ago while visiting the ghost town of Vulci, Italy. It is in the southern part of Tuscany called Maremma. Specifically, the images (and the information about the Roman roads) are from inside the Vulci Archaeological Naturalistic Park. The park features a beautiful open landscape that is home to the ruins of an entire Etruscan city and necropolis. The day that I was there, much of the park was closed due to renovation and heavy rains. Still, I found the overcast day and slight drizzle added to the atmosphere of this peaceful and historic site. I would not have enjoyed my visit as much on a bright and sunny day.

Thank you for reading. It is good to find my way back!

Kelly Borsheim