mild day in Rome

Weather turning milder and more beautiful each day. Constable skies with constantly changing clouds that threaten rain but don't much deliver it.

Spring is starting

Spend a couple of days in Florence, half in the library researching my stone deterioration topic and half wandering the beautiful but artificial city. I was struck by the agressive, juvenile nastiness of Florentine art. Every was a guy with a club busting somebody's head or raping some girl. Beautifully done, but nasty. All art was proclaiming, "I am going to fuck you up" but beautifully. it was in character with the narrow medieval streets and somber stone.

I have been working on another portrait of a fellow.

New Paintings

Most of last week spend with poor Laurie who has been suffering from Roman Fever and sick as anything but, hopefully now, and only today, she seems to be getting a bit better.

did some water colors and oil still lifes Finished the fellow portrait and have a few others lined up.

After too long a pause

First son and then lover having come to visit, I have not been focused on keeping up to date on the blog. Please excuse the gap.

Dmitri was here for a week, we went all over Rome including the Vatican museums and a day trip to Florence.

Then Laurie showed up and we have been to Borghese Gardens, Villa Farnisina, Villa Gulia (both with wonderful frescos, Capitoline museum, and a day trip to Tivoli for the Villa Adriana and Villa d'Esta.