When, on November 3, 1861, a journalist from the Gazzetta del Popolo used the term “Macchiaioli” for the first time, he could hardly have imagined that this derogatory epithet would become the official name of the movement that had emerged in Florence only a few years earlier and later became famous throughout Italy.
The experience of the Macchiaioli unfolded in a short time, but it was enough to make it one of the most interesting and revolutionary movements in the European panorama.
Let’s relive that golden era together with some of the works and figures that made it famous.

Isabella d’Este, Elizabeth I of England, Isabella I of Castile… Retracing the history of the 16th century, we encounter many powerful and strong-willed women known for their decisive roles in the political and strategic events of Europe at the time.
This is not the case for the women artists of the Renaissance: figures who, with rare exceptions, remained excluded from the main stage, victims of the conventions of the time or unfortunate personal circumstances.
Fortunately, thanks to their character and great talent, some female artists defied prejudices and difficulties to emerge in a predominantly male society.

If there is a period in the history of Western art characterized by a profound and widespread revitalization of the arts, it is certainly the 15th century. During this century, we witnessed an intense succession of both technical and formal innovations, based on a new ideological framework, then uniquely interpreted in different European areas. One of the most prolific is Flanders, which from the 15th century onwards became the cradle of a defined and recognizable style: what is today known as Flemish painting. Let’s explore its salient features and main protagonists.

How much can a kiss convey? And how many forms of love can it express? When you think about it, such a simple and human gesture hides a great variety of meanings, so it’s natural to find it in art, represented in countless ways and styles.
To showcase the versatility of this subject, we’ve chosen ten kisses that illustrate just as many types of love: from the passionate to the allegorical.

Among the unique works of high Tuscan craftsmanship is the art of hard stones, realized through the creation of pieces in commesso or Florentine mosaic. A tradition that established itself in the 16th century, leaving us enchanting examples of unsurpassed mastery and originality that endure to this day.
But how did this art originate and evolve? And with which techniques? Let’s explore together.

Clergymen, knights, kings, and princes, but also children, noblewomen, saints, and courtesans: many subjects are portrayed wearing or handling jewelry and precious objects. But what are the functions of these painted ornaments? And what are the intentions behind them?
Tracing the history of jewelry in art means simultaneously retracing that of goldsmithing, fashion, culture, and commerce. It’s a fascinating journey that can hardly be contained within the space of a single article.

In his essay “the gesture in art,” André Chastel warns readers about an unconscious mechanism that occurs whenever we encounter a painting with human figures. If the subject or scene depicted is familiar to us, then the gestures represented seem simple to understand; but when we do not know them, those same gestures become one of the privileged tools for deciphering the theme of the work.
Understanding the meaning of the most common gestures in Renaissance art can provide a new key to interpretation, even for works that are already well-known and seemingly obvious.

Few things can evoke contrasting feelings like still life, especially older ones: some are passionate about it, while others consider it a minor genre. To better understand its importance and charm, let’s retrace its history and evolution, focusing particularly on the 17th century, to which some of the most famous still lifes belong.

Historically, portraits were the prerogative of the nobility until the Renaissance, when a new social class, the mercantile class, emerged, capable of commissioning works and portraits from the great artists of the time. This genre thus spread significantly. Of Raffaello, one of the most renowned artists, we have numerous testimonies today: 5 of his most famous portraits prove it.

Today, we highly value the self-portrait and almost take its existence for granted, but this was not always the case. Like other genres, it has evolved over time. The seeds of this particular artistic category were sown during the Renaissance, an era of great cultural renewal that brought the self-portrait into the limelight in new forms that are still admired today.

“An overwhelming, hallucinatory beauty”, “so beautiful it hurts”: there are several expressions like these or similar in common language. In these sayings, the aesthetic aspect of something or someone seems to have an almost harmful effect on the viewer. Sure, these are hyperbolic phrases, but there is a phenomenon that is not far from what they describe: Stendhal syndrome.
Let’s see what it is about.

What kind of character did Michelangelo have? What is Van Gogh’s story? And how did Pollock achieve success? Movies often reveal little-known aspects or events and offer new interpretations of the personalities and lives of even the most famous artists. The relationship between cinema and art is long and prolific: in this article, we have selected 10 titles that should be in the filmography of any enthusiast of the genre.

The Devil has always assumed multiple forms in art, influenced by different traditions and cultural references, even among artists of the same era. The evolution of this essential figure (Evil opposing Good) is multifaceted and not always consistent.

In this article, we will analyze some of the prominent and easily recognizable traits of the Devil, concluding with a captivating and convincing interpretation.

Art and childhood? A perfect combination, even when it comes to gifts! Games, books, and objects can help young ones learn about and recognize works and artists, memorize dates and historical facts, discover past lifestyles and diverse cultures, all while having fun. It’s a stimulus for learning and creativity.

Our shop offers many gift ideas for those who want to encourage their children and teens to love art.

How is food depicted in art? And with what meanings? What stories does it tell?

It is certainly not possible to exhaust such a rich subject in a single article, however, let’s try to retrace together the main representations of food in art, with, but not exclusive, attention to the Cinquecento.

Understanding and appreciating an artwork goes beyond knowing its author, subject, and the era it comes from. There’s a fourth element that’s just as crucial: the technique. It’s not merely about categorizing a piece as a painting or a sculpture; one must delve into the specifics – what materials were used, the surfaces worked upon, and the tools employed.

This holds particularly true for oil painting, a practice that, from its inception during the Renaissance, has significantly altered the course of art history.

Getting to know the lives and personalities of artists, beyond just their creations, deepens our comprehension and enriches our interpretation of their eras.
We’ve curated a selection of the most illustrious disputes between artists – across all ages – some of which are connected to masterpieces that we can still admire today, in a celebration of the artists as passionately as the art they produced.

Museum visits often transport us through time as we stand captivated by the artwork, we inevitably engage in an exercise of interpretation. Deciphering the subjects and scenes, especially when it comes to saints, isn’t always straightforward.
The attributes, postures, and life events of these holy figures have grown distant from modern understanding, leaving us at times perplexed by the art’s message, which might strike us as peculiar or unconventional.
It’s ironic when you think about it – during the Middle Ages and beyond, saintly iconography was a standardized and widely understood visual language, serving as an instructional aid in religious teachings.
Mastering the art of identifying these key figures doesn’t just mean pinpointing the main theme of a painting; it’s about unlocking the symbolic narratives woven into the canvas.
This concise guide takes you through the tales and trademark belongings of some of the most frequently depicted saints, whose depictions continue to spark wonder and intrigue.

Italian gardens stand alongside architecture, painting, and sculpture as one of the Renaissance’s most enduring legacies. These gardens are celebrated for their harmonious balance and refined elegance, embodying a cultural heritage and detailed aesthetic pursuit that sought to express itself through the orchestrated arrangement of nature.
As with all things, time has shaped the Italian Garden, which has adapted and changed, obscuring some of its original design. Yet, by understanding its beginnings and distinctive characteristics, we can still trace and appreciate the essence of its early splendor.

Italian design, celebrated for its influence on the culture of home furnishings and industrial products, has etched a place of pride in our modern history.
This success comes from the collaboration between creative ingenuity, enlightened local entrepreneurs and high quality projects, many of them recognised with the prestigious Compasso d’Oro, the oldest and most established award in the industry.
Our selection highlights 9 of the most beloved and widespread items from the extensive catalog of over 350 annual awardees – pieces of exceptional design that you might just find you own.

The Italian Renaissance style was not just made up of allusions and illusions; it was also built upon a specific set of terms – a language used by artists and patrons to describe procedures, methods, and effects.
This article aims to clarify some of the key terms that have shaped the art of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.