Venice is
La Serenissima
The Most Serene
The lion of Venice, the city's symbol of power since the Medici rule,
on the clock tower in the Piazza San Marco.
The lion's tablet is inscribed in Latin,
'Pax tibi, Marce, evangelista meus'
('Peace to you, O Mark, my evangelist')
The lion's tablet is inscribed in Latin,
'Pax tibi, Marce, evangelista meus'
('Peace to you, O Mark, my evangelist')
Lion of Venice medallion painted
by Beth Dean on the interior of her front doors
As much as I love the more rustic decor of Tuscany, I also love the more refined Venetian design elements.
I love juxtaposition in my life and in my design work.
Mostly old with a little new, earthy with elegant, indoor with outdoor . . .
Combining opposites makes life and interiors realistic, interesting, and authentic.
Maybe that is why I do love Italy so much . . .
Italy is what I look for in life and design. Italy is rustic AND refined.
In contrast with my first love, the rustic (rustico), straightforward Italy of Tuscany, is my second and equal love the refined (ruffinato), romantic and somewhat mysterious Italy of Venice.
In contrast with my first love, the rustic (rustico), straightforward Italy of Tuscany, is my second and equal love the refined (ruffinato), romantic and somewhat mysterious Italy of Venice.
As much as I love the more rustic decor of Tuscany, I also love the more refined Venetian design elements.
Therien, 18th century Venetian Canape
Mariano Fortuny
Fortuny Melagrana
Midnight Blue and Silver
Fortuny Melagrana
Marmalade and Silver
Fortuny Fiaccola
Rembrandt Rust, Straw and Silvery Gold
Fortuny Melagrana
Green and Silver
Beth posing with the replicas of the well-travelled
bronze horses of the Basilica San Marco.
The originals are now inside, protected from the elements,
and are believed to date from the 8th or 9th century.
In 1204, they were looted by Venetian forces as
part of the sack of the capital of the Byzantine Empire
in the Fourth Crusade.
Italian waiters in the Piazza San Marco
Beth's facial studies . . .
And a Mae Downs & Company Fortuny sachet favor?
Daybed pillows in Fortuny Impero in copper and silvery gold.
And of course, I never forget how my love of all things Italian began long ago . . .
And my forever lion, my Daddy, taken on a recent birthday
at his favorite ITALIAN restaurant, but that is another story
Salute!
Special Thanks to:
Beth Dean Studio
http://www.bethdeanstudio.com/
and on Facebook at Beth Dean Studio
Accepting Commissions
Philip Bewley
Therien
http://www.therien.com/
Mary Jane McCarty
http://www.maryjanemccarty.com/
For more information on preserving
the treasure that is Venice,
please visit
http://www.savevenice.org/
Photo Credits: Beth Dean, Therien, Robert Leedy, Fortuny, Vogue, Gucci, Marilyn Storey, Bergdorf Goodman, Mary Jane McCarty, Kevin McLaughlin, Traditional Home
Therien, 18th century, Venetian Lacca Povera Secretaire
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| "Venetian Atelier" by Robert Leedy Watercolor |
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| Marble Bust, mid 1700's |
Venetian carved giltwood console, ca 1730
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| "Venetian Interior" by Robert Leedy Watercolor |
Venetian carved giltwood with petit and gros point needlework upholstery, ca 1730
Venetian mid 18th century carved giltwood and painted faux marble mirror
I am a huge fabric person, and one of my very favorite fabric lines is the famous Fortuny, originally designed and made by
Mariano Fortuny in Venice,
definitely a lion of Venice.
Mariano Fortuny in Venice,
definitely a lion of Venice.
The workmanship and COLORS of the fabrics are impeccable. I want to use them all. The Tuscan harvest palette I love gives way to more of a jewel tone palette here.
Fortuny tableskirt in the Italian studio of artist Cy Twombly,
taken in the 1960's by Horst for Vogue
The artist's work is on the wall.
The artist's work is on the wall.
I noticed that the colors of the Fall 2011 Gucci line remind me of my favorite rich Fortuny fabric colors.
And the Gucci and Fortuny both reminded me of this Venetian gondola.
The next time I visit Venice I am not going to miss the Fortuny showroom and museum.
Midnight Blue and Silver
Marmalade and Silver
Rembrandt Rust, Straw and Silvery Gold
Green and Silver
Mariano Fortuny's paints
My design and artist friend Beth Dean also loves to visit and paint in Venice.
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| Beth Dean Photo |
bronze horses of the Basilica San Marco.
The originals are now inside, protected from the elements,
and are believed to date from the 8th or 9th century.
In 1204, they were looted by Venetian forces as
part of the sack of the capital of the Byzantine Empire
in the Fourth Crusade.
 |
| San Marco Horses by Canneletto, mid 1700's |
 |
| Beth Dean Photo |
Beth sketching on the steps of Santa Maria delle Salute in Venice,
built in the mid 1600's to honor the Virgin Mary for stopping the plague
which had killed one third of Venice's citizens. Gondoliers take their oars there to be blessed.
built in the mid 1600's to honor the Virgin Mary for stopping the plague
which had killed one third of Venice's citizens. Gondoliers take their oars there to be blessed.
 |
| Beth Dean photo |
"Does She Have a Sister for Me?" by Beth Dean
Oil on Canvas
Oil on Canvas
A few of the young lions of Venice . . .
Who doesn't appreciate a stylish, handsome Italian man?
David's Eye
"Bella Venezia" by Beth Green
Oil on Canvas
Coming soon to Berdorf Goodman
in New York, a celebration of Fortuny . . .
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| Mary Jane McCarty photo |
Fortuny pillows at Bergdorf's from
designer Mary Jane McCarty
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| Mary Jane McCarty photo |
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| Mary Jane McCarty photo |
Cabinet in the New York Fortuny showroom.
The fabulous Barry Dixon has recently designed Fortuny's showrooms.
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| Mary Jane McCarty photo |
Perhaps a cake in the Fortuny Granada pattern for the party?
When the moon hits your eye
Like a big pizza pie, that's amore
When the world seems to shine
Like you've had too much wine, that's amore
"That's Amore"
Dean Martin
And of course, I never forget how my love of all things Italian began long ago . . .
My first Italian Lion, Dean Martin
at his favorite ITALIAN restaurant, but that is another story
Salute!
Special Thanks to:
Beth Dean Studio
http://www.bethdeanstudio.com/
and on Facebook at Beth Dean Studio
Accepting Commissions
Philip Bewley
Therien
http://www.therien.com/
Mary Jane McCarty
http://www.maryjanemccarty.com/
For more information on preserving
the treasure that is Venice,
please visit
http://www.savevenice.org/
Photo Credits: Beth Dean, Therien, Robert Leedy, Fortuny, Vogue, Gucci, Marilyn Storey, Bergdorf Goodman, Mary Jane McCarty, Kevin McLaughlin, Traditional Home
![.](<center><a href="http://www.msdesignmaven.com/p/garden-gun.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb350/littlebluedeer/littlebluedeer003/photo3_zps6af7e212.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo3_zps6af7e212.jpg" width="200"/></a>)
my favorite place on Earth- makes me miss my Italian Mom so much and all the passion she raised me with - the art - the food -music- architecture and warmth
ReplyDeletethanks for the post- MTS- nice Dad by the way
Wow, what a fantastic "trip" you just took me on - thank you! I love fortuny, especially used in beautiful shades for lighting... I loved the pictures of the Italian men too. :) I always want to capture some but always do it as they are walking away because I am too shy to ask - maybe next time I should!
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