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Italy 2008 |
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The interest and inspiration for this trip is to train
students not only to paint in the style of the ancient
Romans, which spanned about 100 years, but also to emphasize
the historical importance of Roman painting in the modern
day and how it can catapult you into a new dimension in your
own work.
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Flora by Sean Crosby
From the Villa Arianna
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Stabiae was a sea-side enclave of the Roman elite about 3
miles away from Pompeii, along the Amalfi-Sorrento Coast.
The Dallas Museum of Art just had a wonderful exhibition
including 72 objects from 4 excavated villas from Stabiae; From
the Ashes of Vesuvius, In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient
Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite. The Flora fresco is
considered an example of the 1st style of Roman painting
with floating figures and impressionistic-like strokes.
The fresco is one of four depicting Diana, Flora, Leda, and
Medea. These mythological depictions deal with intimate
trials of a woman's life: fertility and childbirth, passion,
betrayal, death, and the painful choices of love.
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"Victory" from the Murecine:
Sarno Triclinium
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This lovely panel of Victory from the Murecine, discovered
in 1959 and currently still being excavated, is part of a
larger fresco painted before an earthquake in 62AD (before
the explosion of Vesuvius). The Murecine is considered one
of the most exciting discoveries of the 20th century and was
either a hotel, business complex or seaside home. This
panel, painted in the 4th style was part of a larger panel
from a portico on the building(porticus triplex)and will be
re-created by students under the guidance of figurative
master, Sean Crosby.
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3 Tours will be taken |
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During your trip, we will rock your world with 3 amazing
tours set up specifically for this program. We will spend a
funfilled sightseeing day in Rome follwed by a day at the
magnificent Villa d'Este in Tivoli. If you have never been
to Tivoli, your studies in art are not complete. The
fountains, grottesca, the frescos...
Our newest edition to our trip is a full day excursion to
Pompeii and who better to go with than a true Italian,
Nicola Vigini. Find yourself lost in the life and art of
this ancient and fascinating civilization that has so
influenced the art in our world today.
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Previous Years |
Sheri Hunt-Colorado
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"I was accustomed to an early breakfast and then a short but
invigorating walk through a beautiful Italian landscape,
past breathtaking scenery to the palazzo where I took up my
brush and was ministered to by masters who gently whispered
into my ear the secrets of light and color, they held my
brush fo rme when I was fatigued. I was surrounded by
talented fellow artisans who shared with me a time so
perfect that I still find myself dreaming of it every
morning upon awakening. We bonded ourselves and became
family over lavish meals and endless glasses of wine. We
were taken to the houses of Popes and royalty where we
frolicked in gardens so exquisite that even the Gods are
envious. We stood before the works of Bernini and Rafaello,
of Prada and Versace.."
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The History of Roman Painting: Decorative
Painting Workshop
For all Levels
Stabiae, Pompeii, Herculaneum, & Rome
June 6-22, 2008
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Are
you ready to fulfill your dream of painting in Italy? This is
the year to join Vigini Studios, Inc. in celebrating 10 golden
years of teaching in the most enchanting country in the world.
We plan not only to inspire you, but also to pamper you during
your stay in the charming and culturally rich village of San
Martino al Cimino, 45 north of Rome, near Viterbo, the papal
seat prior to the Vatican. The beauty and serenity of our
surroundings and excitement of our 3 tours will enhance and
inspire your creativity and you will return home with 4 of the
most awe inspiring murals: Murals that you never thought you
could create!
You
will find as you keep reading, a plethora of information on
this trip with art-historical information and photos of the
4 panels. To say that this trip is nothing less than a
success is attested by the fact that we already have
registered 3, three year return students and 2, two year.
This says it all.
Participants are
enthralled yearly by host Nicola Vigini's knowledge and
humble yet masterful temperment and talent combined with
guest instructor Sean Crosby's comic relief and unparalled
passion and command of the brush.
Start picking up the
phone and making your reservations because seating is
limited. Join us and make this our most adventurous and
memorable year ever!
Keep reading to learn more about this year's theme.
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Arianna: Villa Arianna, Stabiae
"Quella pittura d'una donna che vende, io
l'ho vista ricopiata qui (a Parigi) in pił di dieci case".
Written in 1767 in Paris from Abbot Galiani
to a Minister of Affairs, Tanucci, this quote states that
this portrait became the most popular picture in the 18th
century and that it was copied and sold a hundred times
over.
Think of your profits after joining us on this tax
deductible trip.
Nicola Vigini will work his magic with you in creating a
realistic portrait of Arianna within a medallion. This is an
exclusive and unique opportunity time to work with Nicola on
figurative work. In Greek mythology, Arianna was abandoned by
Teseo, the god of sleep, of the island of Naxos and discovered
by Dionysus with a cupid and a torch.
OF INTEREST
The frescoes found in Roman villas were generally based upon
well-known, famous paintings in prominent art collections
(such as the one Julius Caesar amassed). In the 2nd and 1st
centuries BC, there had been a mania for art collecting,
mainly paintings and sculpture looted from Greek
cities(Greeks inhabited this part of Italy during the 5th
century BC). An industry of copyists sprang up to provide
imitations of famous Greek originals. Many of the central
vignettes of the villa walls in Stabiae (and throughout the
empire) were, in fact, copies or pastiches of well-known
panel pictures by famous Greek painters.
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Villa Livia: Livia's Garden at Prima Porta
Livia Drusilla was the wife of Augustus. Prima Porta, her
villa, was located a few miles outside of Rome and named for
one of the main gates into Rome through which water was
brought into the city.
This massive fresco form her subterranean dining room is now
housed in the Palazzo Massimo, a tour that we will take
whilst in Rome. The colors are magnificent and represent an
imaginary paradise with motifs that include rare botanical
and winged specimens. This decoration shows the transition
from the 2nd to 3rd style of Roman painting, dated between
20 and 10BC.
This mural, instructed under the support of Nicola Vigini,
will give you an edge over your competition and will
showcase your talents in non-figurative work.
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 Pompeii
To tour the ancient and once thriving city (pop. 20,000) of
Pompeii is like walking back into time. We will get to see
the House of Vetti, the home of the richest man in the city at
the time of the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD. It is
amazing to see that our sense of beauty has not changed over
these thousands of years. While Pompeii was the residence of
the average citizens, Herculaneum and Stabiae were much
smaller and wealthier, usually the retreats for the political
elite of Rome.
Pompeii is a fascinating blend of personalities and
divisions of trades where the gladiators, bakers, and
bordellos are located in separate areas of the city. Those
who lived closer to the source of water were the wealthiest.
While on this trip, students will learn of the resurgence
and popularity of Roman painting during the Renaissance and
it's pinnacle during the Neo-Classical era.
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Villa d'Este:
How Roman Painting was Incorporated in 16th century
Interiors
The Villa and it's gardens are considered one of the jewels
of the Roman Mannerist style. Cardinal Ippolito d'Este
after a failed bid for the papacy returned to these environs
to revive Villa Arianna and built the hillside Villa d'Este
to the likes of Fountainbleau, home of Francis 1st of
France. From 1550 until his death in 1572, when the villa
was nearing completion, he created a palatial setting
surrounded by a fabulous terraced garden. Chief painter,
Livio Agresti, iconographer-painter-archaeologist, Pirro
Ligurio, and star decorators such as our favorite Federico
Zucchari (you will see more of his works in Italy) worked on
the walls which contain very sophisticated renderings
of grottesca.
Shop, stroll, unwind, daydream..
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Rome
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Castel Sant'Angelo is a huge fortress in Rome that was built
in 139 AD as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian. The Sant'Angelo
castle has been used for different purposes over its long
lifetime. It was once a prison, a refuge for the pope from
his enemies and is now a museum. A tunnel connects Castel
Sant'Angelo to the Vatican. The views and bar at the top are
well kept secrets.
We will visit, time allowing, the Villa Farnesina, Domus
Aurea, Trinita dei Monti, Palazzo Altemps, and the Palazzo
Pamphilj. Can you imagine yourself this summer wandering the
streets of Rome during the day followed by an evening of
delicious food in quaint Trastevere, the Soho of Rome?
Plan to arrive early or stay after the program to visit
sights yet unseen.
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Feel free to contact us personally at 210-212-6177 and we
can answer any questions regarding the trip you may have.
We have it down to a science so that your every need is
taken care of during your stay.
Remember that business questions and pertinent pricing
information will be shared by 2 of the most successful
artists in the industry today. We will teach you how to
educate your clients, gain further respect in this field,
and fulfill your dream of becoming an artisan through
painting and technical advice, travel, and art-historical
education.
Thank you for your patronage and your 10 years of support
both in Italy and San Antonio.
Tanti auguri,
Nicola and Leslie Vigini
Directors
Vigini Studios, Inc.
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Vigini Paint & Decorating
"In their painting you hear not only precision, color and
balance, but thunder, lightening and the language of the
heart"
Mary Hulin
San Antonio, Texas
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Our Sponsor |
Faux Effects has kindly offered to sponsor this exciting
trip and we will be exclusively using and mixing these
mediums in unusual and contemporary methods. You will also
learn how each of these frescos were originally created.
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