Illumination from Piccolomini Library

Illumination on parchment, egg tempera with pure pigments, genuine lapislazzuli and gold leaf 23 3/4 on pastiglia cm.6,5x4

This is the first of a new series of illuminations copied from the manuscripts conserved in the Piccolomini Library in the Duomo di Siena. 

At end of August I visited the Duomo of Siena for the annual exposition of the marble decorated floor (see my post with images and videos) and I took this pictures of illuminations exposed, illuminated by Liberale da Verona and Girolamo da Cremona. 

During the visit I tried to fix in my mind the colors of the original illuminations.

I share other photos of the frescoes by Pinturicchio that cover all the surface of the ceiling and the walls in the Library.

 The last photo is a detail of the floor with decorated tiles.

Illumination, little detail

A detail of an illumination copy from Domenico Morone.

Gold leaf 23 3/4 on pastiglia, egg tempera on parchment.

Here more images of the work in progress

                           

Memling work in progress 2

Gilding the halo with gold leaf 23 3/4 and ammoniacum gum

gilding the frame in my atelier

the frame gilded and varnished

Restoration of a little sculpture of Saint Isidoro

This small wooden sculpture arrived into the atelier broken into several parts, the head was detached and in two and the eyes in  glass paste was removed luckily without breaking. 

In addition, as you can see from the pictures the head is not wood but is modeled in stucco plaster and connected to the body by a wodden pin. 

The difficulty has been to rebuild the site for the left eye and at the same time to paste the head. In the other photo you see the final result.

New illuminations work in progress

Illuminated letters on parchment in metal frame.

I found these gold metal frames with curved glass in inventory of a decoration store, should be part of something more complex; I like that the glass is really thick and is cut by hand.
I immediately thought of adapting them to protect my miniatures on parchment and this is the result.
The letters are painted in egg tempera on parchment with pure pigments, lapislazuli and gold leaf 23 3/4 applied with ammoniac gum. Diameter cm. 5


Ho trovato queste cornicette in metallo dorato con il vetro bombato nelle rimanenze di magazzino di un negozio di decorazione, dovevano far parte di qualcosa di più complesso; quello che mi ha colpito è che il vetro è veramente spesso ed è tagliato a mano.
Ho pensato subito di adattarle per proteggere le mie miniature su pergamena e questo è il risultato.
Le lettere sono dipinte a tempera a uovo su pergamena con pigmenti purissimi, lapislazzuli e foglia oro 23 3/4 applicata con gomma ammoniaco. Diametro cm. 5

Memling work in progress 1

This is one of the many reasons that kept me away from my blog for so long. 
Finally, post photos of this miniature egg tempera on wood and gold leaf copied from Memling.
Here below share the details of the work in progress.


Questo è uno dei tanti motivi che mi ha tenuta lontana dal mio blog per tanto tempo. 
Finalmente posto le foto di questa miniatura a tempera a uovo foglia oro su tavola da Memling.
Qui sotto condivido alcune fasi di lavorazione in dettaglio.

Ancient tecjniques

Last Saturday, thanks to Alessia of guidedtoursofflorence was organized a lecture on ancient techniques in my studio; fresco, egg tempera, oil, gilding and a few basic notions on the restoration of works of art for eleven licensed tourist guides of Florence.

Here's the post that Francesca of Fantastic Florence wrote and some pictures of this afternoon we spent together.

Illuminated letter P with marbled paper

 I made this illuminated letter for a Christmas commission of a client in my etsy shop who created the passpartout with a wonderful marbled paper she painted. 
Few days ago I received a link to the Westwood Gallery with the letter framed. Thank you Pam!

Delaporte oil on canvas work i progress 3

the canvas varnished

glding the frame

finishing touches