Cutwork sleeves might be hard to define, seeing all kinds of cuts and slashes were used in sleeves in 16th century Italy. I've included those who have cut-out pattern in the fabric, without trims and bands as frame. Some are geometrical and dense, some are open and almost lace-like. And true enough, cutwork is a term originally used on lace ( Read more... )

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A mini-mini trip to Northern Italy gave me the opportunity to visit the Villa Foscari (malcontenta) near Venice. The villa is by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio, which I went to study there some years ago. The only villa we didn't get to visit was the Foscari one, and it has since been high on my list. And finally ( Read more... )

So it seems I'll travel a lot this autumn.

First up is a trip to Vicenza in Italy. This is the city blessed with fantastic architecture by Andrea Palladio. I visited it some years ago, on a study trip, and have been in love with Palladio's work ever since. Especially his villas. Hopefully I'll get to visit the Villa Foscari (Malcontenta) near ( Read more... )

An original 1581 edition of Palladio's "Quattro Libri" for sale. One of those, please... Only 12,500.... dollars.... And free shipping ( Read more... )

Villa Barbaro in Maser is a beautiful villa by the architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580). It is on the mainland of Veneto and was a semi agricultural/semi pleasure villa for the brothers Marcantonio and Daniele Barbaro. They inherited the land at Maser from their father, and they decided to replace the old villa there with a splendid new building. ( Read more... )

I came across pics of the frescoes in the loggia of Villa Caldogno yesterday. When I visited the villa last year, the loggia was used as a sort of reception, with shelfs hiding much of the frescoes. They were also badly damaged, as it was only in recent years they had been able to protect them from sun and rain by covering up parts of the front ( Read more... )

You all remember my trip to Italy some weeks ago? Studing the buildings of Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio? A course I signed up for very late because I needed the points? Yes?

THAT COURSE GOT ME AN AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! I'm so freakin' incredibly happy! Partly because I really need good grades this semester to be accepted at the Master ( Read more... )

As promised, here are more pics from the piano nobile in Villa Caldogno, plus two from Villa Godi. The Caldogno frescoes underneath were painted by Giovan Antonio Fasolo (1530-1572), a follower of Veronese. One exception: the green dress with golden "mascarone" shoulder decorations are by Giovan Battista Zelotti (1526-1578), who trained together ( Read more... )

I came home yesterday, after having spent almost a week in Vicenza, Italy. It's been a very different trip, but definitely wonderful. I'm not used to travel with groups, I must admit, so it took me a few days to "acclimate" to dealing with 10+ people's opinions and rythm, but it was cozy as well. The big minus was that the rain poured down EVERY ( Read more... )