Italian Art for Travelers
Your passport to culture, history, and art

Caravaggio’s Calling of St. Matthew was Pope Francis’ favorite painting. As a cardinal, he would often contemplate in situ, in the Contarelli Chapel of San Luigi dei Francesi, near Piazza Navona. What drew Francis to this painting? Was it mercy for the artist’s sins and bad boy reputation, well-earned with a murder conviction? Or perhaps Caravaggio’s incarceration resonated with the pope’s ministry for those in prison.

The Middle Ages hold the answer to the history and mystery of papal conclaves and their rituals. The origins of voting under lock and key in the Sistine Chapel, burning ballots, and cardinals clad in red date back over five hundred years. How did a two-thirds majority come to be the standard to elect a pope? How did the Sistine Chapel become the place to elect popes?

Drawings let us see the artist at work, thinking through problems. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael’s drawings are like fingerprints or handwriting. Each had unique styles and methods of drawing. Raphael frequently drew hands. Michelangelo concentrated on the muscular torso or twisting body. Leonardo brainstormed on paper, keenly interested in nature and how the world around him worked.

Mercenary armies played a pivotal role in conflicts. John Hawkwood was an English mercenary commander who earned fame and fortune in Italy.

What is a doge? A canine meme, a crypto currency, or an attempt to create a department of government efficiency? None of the above. The firs

The Renaissance bedroom was the room where it happened, serving many purposes, including sleep, sex, childbirth, illness, recovery, death, a

Three consequential sixteenth century conclaves illustrate the power wrangling and coalitions in electing a pope: the conclaves for Julius I

Why are so many places and people named after Paul? Paul’s life story from persecutor to preacher inspired his namesake and art from convers

Clothes made the man, from his velvet doublet, brocaded codpiece to his armor.

St. Catherine of Siena, was a gutsy fourteenth century history making woman. She was determined to make a difference, even with doubters and

Need a peaceful place to enjoy art at the Vatican Museums? Look no further than the Raphael room. I call it the secret Raphael room because

The view from the Palatine Hill conveys the storied history of ancient Rome, Christian Rome, and modern Rome.

Renaissance hair served dual functions. Hair beautified the individual and indicated well-being and character. The length and style of hair

Michelangelo’s fame was well founded after completing two early masterpieces, the Pietà and the David. Both speak to his creative genius.

Caravaggio was a violent man and a number of his paintings depict violent scenes. What was Caravaggio's Rome like?

The author presents readers with parallel stories of two young women from different countries, each playing a role in Nazi looted art.

Debauchery and megalomania seem to define most Roman emperors. Four come to mind: Augustus, Nero, Vespasian, and Hadrian.

Four popes did much to shape the Rome we see today. The della Rovere, Farnese, Borghese, and the Barberini families each placed their own ma

Are selfies an evolution of the self-portrait, or do they lack the cleverness and creativity of early modern self-images? The Italian Nation

Michelangelo and Titian, the two sixteenth century powerhouse competitive artists, decided to create their own memorial as the end of their

The Colosseum, public baths, togas, wall paintings are some of the iconic symbols of Rome, made possible through creativity and invention. A

The merchant and banking classes gained their fortunes largely from the textile trade and in turn became patrons of art. Artists paid homage

How did a piece of an Italian saint make it from Milan, Italy, to St. Paul, Minnesota, USA? I found answers to most of my questions, includi

Sandro Botticelli was a go-getter and lived in time when Florence had no lack of talent and innovators. Competition was intense for commissi