Giambologna Gigante Pratolino

Dear Art Lover,

     The world is smaller than we ever imagine.  Or in this case at least, timing was coincidental.  My friend Ruth Glendining in Austin, Texas, recently posted to my Facebook page about hidden rooms underneath Giambologna’s famous giant sculpture of an old bearded man in Pratolino.  Check out the story here:
http://www.boredpanda.com/appennino-sculpture-colossus-giambologna-florence-italy/

     As luck would have it, artist Roberto Coccoloni had been invited me to his art opening at the Locanda, inside this same Parco Mediceo di Pratolino. Roberto is a stone and wood carver that I met many years ago at a dinner with Italians at Le Giubbe Rosse, the historical artists’ hangout in Firenze.  Roberto has many sculptures on exhibition at the Locanda with a group of painters and photographers called Artisti Fiesolani. 

      Thankfully, Roberto called me last night to tell me to take Bus 25 from Piazza San Marco in Florence.  I was visiting a friend in nearby Sesto Fiorentino and hopped on the train back to Florence in the drizzling rain and walked to the piazza.  I did not realize that there was a bus that would take one almost directly to this famous park.  Pratolino is at the end of the line for Bus 25.  Then one walks in the direction the bus goes when it leaves.  Make the first right; then right again a block away where the road Ts.  The park is a short walk downhill on the left.  It is very easy to find.  [But to warn you, I caught the 25L bus back and it only takes one to Piazza Libertà in Firenze.  The later and last bus [25A] last evening left at 8:45 p.m.  It may have returned me to Piazza San Marco.]

     I had hoped to arrive in time to see the changes since my first visit five years ago.  But between the drizzle and the fading light, I chose to just go see Giambologna’s Gigante again before heading over to the exhibition.  Giambologna created his giant old man sculpture titled Il Colosso dell'Appennino (“The Apennine Colossus”) in 1579-1580.  It is true that there are rooms underneath his art, but I have not been inside any of them.

     Can you imagine the surprise of people centuries ago who traversed this land and stumbled upon this enormous figure in the landscape?  Even today, Il Colosso slowly reveals himself behind a fence, tall grasses and large lily pads and other pond plants edging a small lake.  You may get an idea of his size by seeing the small doorway in front of the pond.

 

       A pretty cool dragon guards the backside of this seemingly gentle giant.  Two levels of grotto or rooms are below.  One may see inside the lit room a headless standing marble figure.

     I headed into the exhibition in La Locanda building.  Roberto greeted me warmly and I went inside to see his art on the ground floor, and then the upstairs for the 2-d art.  During the presentation, there was music and a sort of theatre musical performance of a woman dancing and singing in a soulful and mournful operatic voice. Here is an image of Robert’s sculpture Gesto [“Gesture”] in marble and Pietra vacica [the black stone on the head].  It is 30 h x 10 x 10 cm, created in 2006.

     Although I received an invitation to join Roberto and his friends for dinner, I was afraid that there was not enough time for me to catch the last bus back to Firenze and opted out.  However, before I said my goodbyes, I told them that I HAD to go see again Il Colosso in the dark!  I had an idea from the lighted pathways that he might also be lit.  I could not imagine when I might be back to Pratolino and if the sculpture were even accessible normally after the sun has set.  I snapped what photos I could, without a tripod sadly and in the light rain.  I was happy that the others had followed me out a little later and told me that I had had an ottima idée!

     The rain was starting to come down more and I was pretty cold.  I had no umbrella and was not dressed properly.  Sadly, I have not yet been able to retrieve the things I left in storage in Italia.  All I have with me is what I packed for the plane ride from the USA.  People who pay attention to such things might know that I carry far fewer personal items and clothes than I do computers and art materials, so I have had little to wear this first week in Italia and the weather is dramatically cooler than what I experienced during my time in the States.  Whoops… that was not fore-thinking of me!

     Here are my posts about this park back in 2010, my first visit.  The park has been closed for 3-4 years for restoration.  Entrance last evening was free, but they have put out a tip jar if you feel so inclined.  That is an amazing offer since it must have cost them a fair amount of money to close for several years to work on the place.  I am delighted that it is open again.
http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2010/09/giambologna-sculpture-pratolino.html

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2010/09/pratolino-sculpture-italy.html

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2010/09/seashells-and-dragon.html


Thank you for reading and making it all possible.
Peace,
Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Sargent Paintings at The Met III

Dear Art Lover,

     I will round out this series on the John Singer Sargent exhibition that recently closed at The Met in New York.  This first is a detail shot of The Fountain, Villa Torlonia, Frascati, Italy 1907.  It is an oil painting… brilliant.

     This next one is a watercolor painting with graphite, simply titled, Young Woman with a Black Skirt, created in the 1880s.  I like some of Sargent’s watercolors and I enjoy the paintings he has done of working women. 

     In fact, while I was in Croatia this past winter, I made a copy of a Sargent of a girl carrying onions.  My work is a pastel.  She is available, so please contact me if you may be interested.


After JS Sargent
Paper Size = 36 x 25 cm [Drawing is smaller]
pastels on paper
AVAILABLE:
$150 + $15 worldwide shipping

Thank you for reading and making it all possible.
Peace,
Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Sargent Paintings at The Met II

Mabel Batten by Sargent

Dear Art Lover,

     John Singer Sargent surely inspired the way that female figures were drawn on the fronts of sewing patterns… elongated figures, delicately slender feet and waists, for example.  Do you see it?

     This first painting is one Sargent created of a Mabel Batten, a popular amateur mezzo-soprano in her own time (1857-1916).  She played the piano and the guitar, composed her own songs, and was an arts and music patron.  Sargent captured her swept up in the emotion of singing her own song.  He cropped his painting to emphasize her posture, according to the sign next to the painting.

     This next portrait from 1892 really impressed me as well.  In London, Sargent painted Mary Frances Hammersley (1863-1911).  He really captured her personality in this painting and it led to his election into the Royal Academy.  As the exhibition sign read, “One critic enthused, ‘The head literally vibrates with life; never has the spirit of conversation been more actually and vividly embodied.’” 

     Again, look closely at the genius of this portrait, from the great diagonal of the colorful fabric coming up from the bottom left and leading the eye to the sitter’s face in the upper center of the canvas to the paint handling of lace and decoration on fabric to the plays of subtle purples cooling the vibrant fuchsia color.

Slender feet and beautifully handled paint in this Sargent

     Now this detail of the Sargent portrait of American actor Joseph Jefferson as Dr. Pangloss (1890) is just plain fun.  The energy and intensity of the gaze, and that HAIR!  Is this the origin of a scary Bozo the Clown?  I love the lavender swash stroke over the top of the bald head.  It does help the face launch towards us, does it not?



     Many of the signs in this art exhibition explained that John Singer Sargent bartered or outright gifted paintings to friends.  Like most artists, Sargent was friends with many other artists.  His friend, sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens created a portrait in relief of Sargent’s sister Violet while playing a guitar. In return Sargent painted this wonderful portrait of the sculptor’s son Homer and wife Augusta.  I think he perfectly captured the expression of a boy distracted while being read to.  

     I also love how the artist emphasizes the fidgety-ness of the boy by placing a dull red outline around the twisted foot.  The strong color [as well as the highlights on the shiny black shoes] pulls your eye down.  And yet the red is muted enough that is never takes away from the boy’s face [the area of highest contrast].  Along with the slouching shoulders, one can easily feel the informality of the pose.  

"Portrait of a Boy" by Sargent

     In the last image of this painting Portrait of a Boy the book on the mamma’s lap seems quite bright, but when you look again at the image of the entire painting, I hope you can see that the book is not actually nearly as bright as the subject:  the boy’s face.  I also enjoy how the cool tones in the book contrast with warmer hands.  Still, this area has an overall lower contrast and chroma as the main subject area.  All parts of the composition help to emphasize the boy and his interest in …. You!

     These Sargent artworks were on exhibition at The Met in New York City, but it is over now.  Or perhaps it has moved on to another city.

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Happy birthday to nieces Elyse and Erin.

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Sargent Paintings at The Met

The hand of Madame X by Sargent

Dear Art Lover,

     The John Singer Sargent exhibition at The Met in New York City was an absolute pleasure to see.  How lucky I was that I was able to stay in the Big Apple for several days and see this Sargent exhibition before it closed.

     You may already know that Sargent is one of the painting gods in whose artworks most artists today find inspiration and awe.  He was a famous and popular portrait artist and painter, an American born in Florence, Italy, but who made his fame elsewhere first.  I love it that we were permitted to take photos in the museum.  I never use flash and I like to get close.  I have not bothered here to share with you the complete painting of a featured work. [The one shown here included people for your idea of his scale.] JS Sargent is famous enough that you likely know the works anyway. 

     Plus, let us zoom in on the delicious details of Sargent’s work.  I captured these images to help me remember the play of cold and warm, loose vs. more finished/detailed, and edges.  Always edges make the world of difference for the emotion conveyed in a work of art.

      Thank you to those who sent me kind words about my blog and newsletter.  There was so much that I had to accomplish while in the US that my writing had to take a step back.  I thank you for making my art party with Warren Cullar a successful event in Austin, Texas, and that your interest and support make my life as an artist continue.  I am in the process of finding a home here in Italy and anxious to get settled in a new studio space.  I have a lot of creative time to make up for!  Grazie mille.

Peace,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com