Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland
Looking at art is part of what I like to do in Italia. During every visit I collect at least one new artbook, and learn about new (to me) artists. Frances Mayes' books has been a good travel companion for some of this.
It was in one of her books I first learned about Luca Signorelli. I saw some of his masterpieces in Ufizzi in Firenze (Florence) last spring, bought a book about him and developed a deep interest. In Roma in May, in Castel Sant'Angelo by chance I came over one of his paintings which was shown on an exhibition there for a few months. I decided then to start my own "collection of Luca Signorelli paintings". In a small handmade marbelled notebook which I bought in Asissi, I write down tales from my own meetings with Signorelli's paintings.
Before coming to Venezia I did a check in my books and on internet to see if any of Signoretti's paintings could be found here. But without luck. I then wrote Frances Mayes to ask if her knew, but her only suggestion was to check the world wide web. I did again, and this time I was luckier and found that there actually is one of Luca Signorelli's paintings in Ca' d'Oro; Flagellazione.
So there I went.
I asked the man who sold me my ticket if he knew where I could find Signore Signorelli, but he had no idea and sent me out to search for myself.
I did. And I found some marvellous tapestries. Tapestries held a special place in my herat. They are so easy to dream up stories from. To walk right into.
But no sign of Signorelli.........
or?
What is this?
A note telling that Luca Signorelli's painting is in Roma, in Castel Sant'Angelo for some months!
The one I had already seen back in May!
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So what did I do?
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I found a cafe and sat down with my old (1951) The Pocket Book of Great Drawings by Paul J. Sachs. There he writes about Signorelli:
Luca Signorelli 144? - 1523, born in Cortona, was a pupil of the great painter, Piero della Francesca, and reached maturity under Pollaiudo at Florence. Note at once in the black chalk drawing of a Nude Man and Kneeling Nude Woman (which is shown in the book) that his figures are more heroic and robust than those of Pollaiuolo; also that they are more animated in movements. Signorelli is a traditional artist who in his masterly chalk drawings revealed his genius. He was the first artist in Italy to exploit the use of black chalk.........Signorelli blazes the way for the achievements of the High Renaissance and particularely for the powerful work of Michelangelo.
So, my notebook got her story, and I had a lovely day.
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