Tuscan Art Essentials—For a picture perfect casa
In many ways, the Tuscany IS a work of art.
From the picturesque winding roads that are
lined with cypress trees, to a perfectly set
table that holds plates of Risotto ai Pomodoro,
thinly sliced prosciutto, or fresh pane that's
just dying to take a dip in a bowl of extra
virgin olive oil. Everywhere you cast your
eyes, a work of art stares back at you. For
this reason, when I was an art student years
ago, I found it quite odd that someone would
need to study art in this region of Italy since
very little imagination was really required to
create an artistic masterpiece. All you had to
do was paint or photograph exactly what was in
front of you. The landscapes seemed already
primed and practically begging for someone,
anyone, to just capture it's beauty. But, that
said, what makes an artist so unique is that
they don't just replica what’s in front of
them―they look at it and they see something
over and above what others see. Good thing,
otherwise we wouldn't have any paintings of
angels that Leonardo da Vinici, Botticelli, or
Caravaggio painted.
So, if you're here at this Tuscan decor page, then you must be looking to create a masterpiece yourself. Is it a home decorating project? Do you have a home that's primed and begging to have it’s Italian essence captured? Are you stuck on the word 'beautiful', but just can't figure out which decor style really expresses that kind of ambiance? I'll give you a hint, by telling you what many Italians would say if you asked them to define ‘beautiful’. They would boldly say, with a twinkle in their eye, "Che bella la Toscana!" That's right, the Tuscany is the epitome of beauty.
Now, what do you do once you're convinced that your home has the soul of a beautiful Italian villa and is begging to be expressed as such? After all, it could take you a few years before a fresco was be finished on the ceiling. I know, I know, apparently Michelangelo (Tuscan painter born just east of Florence in a little village called, Caprese) painted the image of God in a day at the Sistine Chapel, but.... Now that’s not to say you can’t have the work of the masters, that was created elsewhere, in your home. Why not, the Tuscans travel and would easily bring back art as home furnishings from other parts of Italy, especially if they was created by their beloved sons of the Tuscany. But, ultimately this isn’t about Rome. This is about Florence and Siena and Pisa and Pistoia, and a land that is full of hills covered in vineyards, olive groves, iris florentina, and bright red poppies...
So, in other words, I recommend that you start your Tuscan decorating project based on that, and I also encourage you to start it here, because not only do you save yourself hours of tiring air travel, bouncing from one connecting flight to the next, but you won't ware down your favourite Italian shoes on those unforgiving cobblestones as you endlessly bounce from shop to shop looking for the perfect furnishings to complete your Tuscan decor style. Why bother, when you can leisurely scroll along here at the same stress free pace as an Italian Passeggiata (evening stroll) and safely pick out what brings you the most pleasure safely knowing they will fit within a Tuscan style. Because, you see, I’ve diligently sifted through the art that depicts a timeless, classic, and without a doubt, beautiful Tuscan look, and organized them into a collection for you already. After all, time would be better spent enjoying your 'beautiful' home and entertaining those guests of yours that won't know how they know, but will nonetheless cheer fluently, "Che bella la Toscana!" And you can just smile, raise your glass of chianti and celebrate in fact that you had enough imagination to line your walls with your new, personal and affordable Tuscan art collection. “Brava!”
So, if you're here at this Tuscan decor page, then you must be looking to create a masterpiece yourself. Is it a home decorating project? Do you have a home that's primed and begging to have it’s Italian essence captured? Are you stuck on the word 'beautiful', but just can't figure out which decor style really expresses that kind of ambiance? I'll give you a hint, by telling you what many Italians would say if you asked them to define ‘beautiful’. They would boldly say, with a twinkle in their eye, "Che bella la Toscana!" That's right, the Tuscany is the epitome of beauty.
Now, what do you do once you're convinced that your home has the soul of a beautiful Italian villa and is begging to be expressed as such? After all, it could take you a few years before a fresco was be finished on the ceiling. I know, I know, apparently Michelangelo (Tuscan painter born just east of Florence in a little village called, Caprese) painted the image of God in a day at the Sistine Chapel, but.... Now that’s not to say you can’t have the work of the masters, that was created elsewhere, in your home. Why not, the Tuscans travel and would easily bring back art as home furnishings from other parts of Italy, especially if they was created by their beloved sons of the Tuscany. But, ultimately this isn’t about Rome. This is about Florence and Siena and Pisa and Pistoia, and a land that is full of hills covered in vineyards, olive groves, iris florentina, and bright red poppies...
So, in other words, I recommend that you start your Tuscan decorating project based on that, and I also encourage you to start it here, because not only do you save yourself hours of tiring air travel, bouncing from one connecting flight to the next, but you won't ware down your favourite Italian shoes on those unforgiving cobblestones as you endlessly bounce from shop to shop looking for the perfect furnishings to complete your Tuscan decor style. Why bother, when you can leisurely scroll along here at the same stress free pace as an Italian Passeggiata (evening stroll) and safely pick out what brings you the most pleasure safely knowing they will fit within a Tuscan style. Because, you see, I’ve diligently sifted through the art that depicts a timeless, classic, and without a doubt, beautiful Tuscan look, and organized them into a collection for you already. After all, time would be better spent enjoying your 'beautiful' home and entertaining those guests of yours that won't know how they know, but will nonetheless cheer fluently, "Che bella la Toscana!" And you can just smile, raise your glass of chianti and celebrate in fact that you had enough imagination to line your walls with your new, personal and affordable Tuscan art collection. “Brava!”
Sometimes when the image is exactly how we see
it, we often take the colours within the
artwork for granted. That's why Tuscan abstract
art can be just what you're looking for if you
want to draw attention in a room to the colours
and there aren't many colours that represent
the Tuscany like the browns...
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Tuscan Brown Art Decoded II
Lausen
Buy from
ArtistRising.com
(a
division of Art.com)
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Most people tend to decorate their homes with
lots of rich, earthy tuscan colours, when it
comes to this particular decor style. However,
I would recommend that you don't exclude the
charm of black and white photography of the
Tuscany. You really get to see the flow of the
countryside. Take artist Gianni Berengo
Gardin's, 'Tuscan Landscape'. Roads like this
will take you a lot longer to get somewhere, as
they curve this way and then that, but when one
is in the Tuscany, what's the hurry...
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I never even drank coffee until I lived in
Italy, and then all of the sudden I couldn't
walk past a bar (café Italian style) without
walking in an asking for some brown gold. Good
thing I was on a student's budget. A girl has
to eat too. I will confess, I did warm my way
into it.
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First there was the caffe latte. All milk, very
little awareness of the espresso. We were told
that only the bambini (children) and sick drank
this when they needed comforting. But, when you
live in the Tuscany during the winter months,
the cold that tickles your bones can cause one
not to care what category they fall under if
they drink these during the evening hours.
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Then, I became a little braver and weaned
myself off the latte and on to the cappuccino
with the equal portions of 1/3 espresso, 1/3
milk, and 1/3 froth. I loved them too. I also
loved that they were apparently named after an
order of monks called, 'Order of Friars Minor
Capuchin'. The monks wore a hooded cloak that
was the colour of, you guessed it, mocha brown.
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Okay, okay time was probably ticking and I had
to catch something. Maybe a bus or shoe sale―I
don't know, all I know was I had made a
concentrated effort to move on to an espresso.
And when I say concentrated, I mean
concentrated... Something else I would soon
evolve to was the new cafe style in which I
would experience it. There was going to be no
dilly dallying at some table when it came to
enjoying these little treasures of stimuli. No
siree! It was give your barista the request and
funds, shallow, and espresso full steam ahead.
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Everything goes with cheese, especially a good
piece of bread and olives.
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"Excusa, but do you know where I can find the
statue 'David'?" Oh, boy does that line open
you up for an adventure through the streets of
Florence. Well, you can't afford to get lost,
after all, you have a home to decorate, so I've
done the seeking for you and here he is. Well,
here he is... Confused? Don't worry, I was the
first time too. Well, the only thing you have
to know in order to clear the confusion is to
pick the one you like. But, if I was to
recommend a suggestion―go big with the wall
mural, because believe me this work of art is
'huge', in more ways than one. Not only are
they important landmarks to the Florentines and
the visiting tourists, but both statues are
more than what the eye can obviously see, as
they are wonderful representations of the
famous biblical battle between David and
Goliath (First Samuel 17). So, if you're into
decor style and inspirational representations
at the same time, let this art be a reminder,
that no matter how impossible it seems
sometimes, you just have to have absolute faith
and all things are possible. Maybe even finding
'David' on your trip to the Tuscany. Here, I
won't take the fun away, but 'll give you some
hints on where to go in Florence so you don't
have to ask where 'David' is:
• Piazza della Signoria
• Galleria dell'Accademia
• Museo Nazionale del Bargello
• Piazza della Signoria
• Galleria dell'Accademia
• Museo Nazionale del Bargello
The first image of 'Statue of David, Florence,
Tuscany, Italy Wall Mural' available at
Allposters.com, would have been taken in one of
my favourite squares in Florence―Piazza della
Signoria. I love standing in the middle of it,
close my eyes and try to imagine what it would
have been like during the Renaissance period.
It must have been magnificent. And if I have
doubts that it was, then I head to the Uffizi
Gallery where I am guaranteed wonderment...
The following three prints are of
Michelangelo's 'David' that was made of Marble
between 1501-1504.
Which of the following captured images do you
like―Donatello's, 'David', 1408-1409 made of
marble or Donatello's, 'David', circa 1440 made
of bronze?
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If I was you, I'd do more than hang one of
these doors on my living-room wall, I'd sit
back, close my eyes and imagine knocking on one
of those doors because you can be guaranteed
that a Mama is in the kitchen cooking her heart
out. Oh, I can smell the aromas of that tomato
sauce now. Knock...knock...knock..., "Che
sorpresa!" "Yes, it is a surprise. May I come
in?" "Avanti, avanti!" Yup, that's what doors
are for―entering into a world of the delicious
unknown.
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Nearly all of the artists from the Renaissance
were either born or died on Tuscan soil AND
definitely contributed to the Tuscan charm and
culture. Take Brunelleschi's 'Duomo' try and
imagine what the skyline of Florence would be
like without it. No, quick, cancel that
thought. I just can't imagine it. I won't
imagine it, period. And I can't imagine any of
this other artwork not being in our lives
either. They're so embedded in our way of
thinking about art from Italy that we almost
take their effort for granted. Well, if you're
like me; you don't. Wonderful! So, here are a
few masterpieces to select from and see which
ones you have missing from your home gallery
and if you've run out of wall space, go ahead
and line the halls. You can never have enough
art in your life.
Botticelli
Born in Florence, Tuscany
Born in Florence, Tuscany
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Brunelleschi
Born in Florence, Tuscany
It's the famous Cathedral of Florence called The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore or the Duomo that brought Filippo Brunelleschi architect and engineer his fame.
Born in Florence, Tuscany
It's the famous Cathedral of Florence called The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore or the Duomo that brought Filippo Brunelleschi architect and engineer his fame.
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Caravaggio
Died in Porto Ercole, Tuscany
Died in Porto Ercole, Tuscany
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Cimabue
Died in Pisa, Tuscany
Died in Pisa, Tuscany
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Leonardo da Vinci
Born in Vinci, Florence, Tuscany
Born in Vinci, Florence, Tuscany
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Michelangelo
Born in Caprese, Tuscany
Born in Caprese, Tuscany
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It's remarkably difficult to find and offer you
artwork that reflects the Florentine Iris, or
as the Italians would call it, 'Il Giaffiolo',
or as a Knopf Travel Guide of Florence states,
the flower-de-luce. I can't tell you much about
it other than it's so pale it's almost white
with a delicate lavender hint. Basically, they
are not the dark purple irises. I can also tell
you, based on a past memory during a tour of a
Parfumerie in Grasse, France, the roots of this
flower are called Orris Root and were used in
perfume as a fixative. Oh, what a day that was,
the wonderful raw smell of the... I'll have to
save the rest of that story for my Provence
decor page. Anyhow, I can also recall seeing
irises spotted all through the olive groves of
the Tuscany and thinking just how perfect
nature is with its lovely decorating schemes:
iris purple and olive green.
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In March, the world celebrates International
Women's Day in many unique ways, however for
me, I think the way the Italians celebrate it
is truly beautiful. In essence, the men will
buy small bundles of these lovely blossoms and
hand them out to the women. The first time I
saw this going on in the town square, I had no
idea what was going on. I even received one of
the tiny bundles with probably a very puzzled
look on my face that said, "But, I don't even
know you." Then I was educated on the
tradition. Apparently, the yellow represented
joy and it was their way of honouring the women
in their life. Well, let's just say, it WAS a
joy to be honoured as a women this way. And now
every year, on March 8th, I can't help but wish
I was walking the cobble stones of the Tuscany.
But, hey, we don't have to be in Italy or male
to honour the women in our lives any day of the
year. So, break tradition and give some of the
following mimosa art to one of your women
friends as a gift. Believe me, it will fill her
with joy.
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Bursting with Tuscan sun, these little green
nuggets are just waiting to have their goodness
squeezed out of them. Some of us have no idea
what our purpose on earth is and some of us do,
and believe me, the olive knows exactly why it
showed up―to be a dip for bread. That's not it?
Oh. Okay, how about this, the olive is the
second most famous virgin? No. Hm,... you got
me. Oh, wait a minute, how about it being the
epitome of nutritional excellence on the walls
of a Tuscan kitchen.
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It's simple to make a bowl of pasta. No,
seriously--it's simple! In fact, the simpler
the sauce the better. If I was you, and wanted
to cook an authentic sauce, I would skip the
tomatoes and toss in some olive oil, garlic,
fresh basil, and graze the top with parmesan
cheese. That's it. And in my opinion, that
works on Spaghetti, Eliche, Shells, Farfalle,
Maccheroni...
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I wonder if these prints are the Tuscany's
version of sacred geometry?
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I think in Italy it is mandatory for the
farmers to study art. Each field that contains
poppies, looks like they've been painted with a
brush instead of planted. So, if you need a
stroke of Tuscan beauty splashed within your
environment, either pick a field full of
poppies like artist Art Fronckowiak's work
called, 'Poppies of Toscano II', or just hand
pick a few absolute beauties, may I suggest
artist Andrea Kahn's, 'Poppies in Sunlight I'.
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Oh my gosh, it was the most amazing view I had
ever seen. We had left the city of Florence,
where it had been raining for days, and headed
out into the countryside where we were told sun
was not guaranteed, but beauty would be. They
were not wrong. It was the most beautiful view
I had ever seen of a town. Perched so high on a
Tuscan hill that even the clouds had succumbed
to it's stature. And like a story told in the
glory of our Creator, the sun burst through
those clouds and crowned the town with a halo.
I immediately had a new understanding for
renaissance art―they just painted what the saw.
All along I thought it was a figment of their
imagination. Anyhow, the wonderment would not
stop there, because once we had settled into
our hotel room, and swung open the shutters
that blocked out every ray of light, there
before me was the most spectacular view of the
little winding road that had brought us to this
moment. I was changed. It took a long time to
get over that experience―if I ever did. Guess
that's why, for me, if you want to surround
yourself with a Tuscan decor style, you
definitely must have at least one piece of
artwork perched high on your walls, like a
Tuscan hillside town, which will play as a
medieval window. Then you too can truly live
the joy of a 'Room with a View' everyday.
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The Tuscany, as far as colour goes, is warm and
there aren't any better Tuscan art prints to
express this essence than sepia photographs. I
have a real warm spot in my heart with
artist Jamie Cook's print titled, 'Farm House in Tuscany'.
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A Tuscan sunflower art has a deep and rich
concentrated feel to them unlike other
sunflower artwork, which is lighter and airy. I
think it's due to the soil from which they grow
from, which is also rich and dense.
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These prints are perfect for any Tuscan
kitchen, especially if you don't want to
re-tile. After all anyone who has pulled a tile
from their original spot knows that it is
easier to pull teeth. This way you can move the
tiles around. Want them to line your hall walls
next week, no problem... Just make sure you
replace them with some new Tuscan art prints.
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Without a doubt, it is the icon Cypress trees
that give the Tuscan countryside its charm.
Funny as they were introduced by the Romans to
Italy from eastern Europe. Of course, there are
other trees that add a distinct impression to
the landscape: Unbrella Pine; Pinaster; Spanish
Chestnut; Olive; Common Oak. Can you make them
all out here?
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