Venice through our eyes

We arrived in Venice around six in the evening, after having secured our hotel in Mestre, a twenty minute bus or train ride outside of Venice. It was one of the best moves we made; we not only enjoyed the walk into Venice from the train station, but thoroughly enjoyed not having to lug our luggage through the crowds. 

Arriving in Venice as the evening was beginning was absolutely magical. We strolled for an hour or so and decided to take the water bus down the canal to San Marco Square. Oops- what we thought would be a ten minute "express" ride turned out to be a thirty minute "tour" around the islands surrounding Venice (note to self- read the signs (don't know Italian) inquiringly motion to a local ;]).  Actually, the ride was fascinating with the boat full of locals returning to their homes.

Here we are now...

With each glance, you caught a gorgeous picture.

Amazing architecture, canals everywhere...

Perfect for a postcard, eh?

We returned the next day, refreshed and ready to go. One can't help but be amazed at how much the water and canals influence the lives of the Venetians. Water is everywhere, seeping into doors and buildings.

We headed over the the Palazzo Fortuny to visit the museum. The Fortuny collection was so exciting to see, but I had to exert much self control not to touch the fabrics. Seeing Mariano Fortuny's beautiful paintings was a delight. Not being able to take photos was a bummer, but I did pick up a wonderful book about Fortuny that I had not seen in the states.

We did sneak a few photos as we stepped outside on a third floor back veranda. If you look closely, you can see the canal in the next "block".

Here is a good example of the eroding condition of the buildings of Venice.

The Palazzo Fortuny's inner courtyard. The lower windows' roundels were lovely both indoors and out.

The Palazzo's exterior:

More neighborhood shots:

 The stucco colors are so vivid! 

Picture perfect, again!

Lots of spires and quatrefoils... and did I say water?

 

Toward the evening, the sun disappeared behind the clouds and it became windy and cold. Here, folks are beginning to scurry about to leave and take shelter.

Venice was just what you would expect... and more. I will return!

Next Sunday I'll show you around the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside.

Seeing red

An eye popper. Loaded with energy. Regal. Commanding. Red is certainly a high voltage color.

Wouldn't these descriptions all be appropriate for this Fortuny dress?

Silk by Mary Schoeser   Photo by Claudio Franzini

Red is seen in nature everywhere.

Using red in your home is a consideration that you would give much thought to. You can start off in small doses with accessories...

 Interiors Now by Angelika Taschen  Photo by David Hiepler & Fritz Brunier

This charming screen could be placed most anywhere.

H&G 10-06     Screen by Edelman Metalworks

Getting braver, the red jolts of color nicely compliment the robin's egg blue walls and deep purple accents of the bedding. The purple and red join in the rug to pull it all together.

House Beautiful    Photo by Ditte Isager

Deciding to color your walls is next. In Italy, this would be a no brainer. Get out the red ochre pigment and start brushing.  

 Mediterranean Color   Book and photo by Jeffrey Becom

 

In the office setting, the red Venetian plaster is a rich addition to the otherwise contemporary, but sedate design. 

 Real Illusions, Inc.

The random gold leaf applied to this red wall dresses up the dark color in an exciting way.

 Art & Decoration   November-December 2003  

Here, red foil is first applied to the wall and then stained to achieve the depth you see. Tammy Anthony, of Buford, Georgia, is the decorative artist who designed this finish.

 credit 

In this bath, the beautifully peaceful stencil is on top of a wall finished with a mixture of acrylic wax and a water-based stain.

 

credit        Artist unknown

This red marbleized wallpaper beautifully complements the powder room's antique fixtures. The paper is called Pheasant in Orange by Twigs, available at John Roselli.  

 House Beautiful   Photo by Simon Watson

Michele Molek, of Fashionable Finishes in Southern Pines, NC, created this extraordinary dining room with a combination of foil, metallic plaster and inlaid Modello designs. Cool room!

Lastly, here is an up-to-date, traditional library that shows off its wood panels with a luxuriously rich, high gloss r-e-d. The warm colors are cozy and inviting, especially with the fire going in the evening.

Belle magazine      Photo by Richard Powers

Would you decorate with red in your home? I would love to see more examples.

I will be offering a hydrangea wreath to the lucky winner of my 100th post celebration giveaway! Be sure to check in this week for the details.

And while you're at it, hop on over to Mona's place, Providence Ltd., to try your chances on winning three, beautiful leather books!

Mariano Fortuny Followup

One of my most read posts during the last few months has been Mariano Fortuny- Did you know he also painted? As you could tell, I adore his lush velvets, magical pleated silks and his style of painting. I look forward to visiting Venice this fall and the Palazzo Fortuny.

Last week I was contacted by a wonderful gentleman from Italy named Sig. Giorgio Busetto. He corrected the post by informing me that Fortuny's father actually painted the flowers in a vase photo:

"The painting with pot of flowers has been painted by
MARIANO FORTUNY Y MARSAL, father of Mariano Fortuny Y Madrazo (1871 - 1949).
The signature ,without doubt, belong to Fortuny Y Marsal (1835 - 1874)." 

I stand corrected. 

Giorgio also kindly offered to share with me three more photos that are in his family. It turns out that his mother-in-law, Clara, who died last year at age 95, began to work in the Fortuny Atelier around 1930. She prepared the various velvets, silks and other materials for coloring by Mr. Fortuny until his death in 1949.

Later, Mrs. Henriette Fortuny, the widow of Mariano, called Clara back to become her housekeeper until she passed away in 1965. Henriette Fortuny gave her these paintings, dedicating them on the back with the inscription "... alla cara Clara..."; cara means beloved.

Without further ado, here are the cherished Fortuny paintings in the care of Sig. Giorgio Busetto.

This is the beautiful Ritratto di Henriette Fortuny, circa 1917. 

It is tempera on wood and measures 40 cm x 55 cm.

The dedication on the back is:

"alla carissima Clara un ricordo  Henriette Fortuny"

This photo is named Perugia, Rue e vielles maisons. 

It is tempera on wood and measures 17.5 cm x 13 cm.

 

The dedication on the back reads "Appartiene alla cara Clara da Henriette Fortuny"

Lastly, here is Corrida de Toros. A picador (who jabs the bull with a lance) is in the foreground and a toreador (the person who performs with and kills the bull) is in the background. The painting is also tempera on wood and measures 18 cm x 13 cm.

The dedication on the back is "Alla cara Clara di Henriette Fortuny".

On behalf of all of the Fortuny lovers here in the US, thank you, Sig. Giorgio Busetto, for your generosity in sharing these precious paintings with us!

 

Mariano Fortuny- Did you know he also painted?

When I think of Mariano Fortuny, lush velvets and delicate, pleated silks come to mind.  The “Delphos” dress is a classic. The “Fortuny lampshade” is also. The beautiful damask fabrics, the gorgeous clothes.  His mystique.  What I did not realize is that he was also a very gifted painter. And engraver. And stage and lighting set designer. Some of his inventions set new benchmarks in theater that are still followed today.


La Pedrera de Caixa Catalunya (the museum) in Barcelona, Spain is currently holding an exposition on Fortuny and his works: Fortuny, El mag de Venecia (Fortuny, The Magician of Venice).
Besides viewing his incredible fabrics, clothing and inventions, there are also presentations, discussions and a tactile tour of fabrics. I wish I was in Barcelona! I think they should bring this wonderful display to the USA!

Silk lampshades in Mariano Fortuny 1999 Marsilio Editori

Fortuny velvet

Mariano Fortuny (y Madrazo) was born in Grenada, Spain in 1871. After his painter father’s early death at age 36 of malaria in 1874, his mother moved her two young children to Paris, where Mariano was encouraged to study painting and etching under his uncle’s tuteledge. He was introduced to many of the artists at the time through his family and exposed to many styles of painting.   In 1889, his mother moved the family to Venice. Mariano spent time in both Venice and Paris, before finally settling in the Palazzo Orfei.  Today it is now called the Palazzo Fortuny, as it houses the museum dedicated to Fortuny and his works.

Here are some views of the Palazzo Fortuny:

Palazzo Fortuny exterior in Fortuny by Guillermo de Osma

Palazzo Fortuny exterior in Fortuny by Anne-Marie Deschodt

The Grand Salon in Fortuny by Anne-Marie Deschodt

Palazzo Fortuny in Fortuny by Guillermo de Osma

 

The library in Fortuny by Anne-Marie Deschodt

Fortuny's studio in Fortuny by Anne-Marie Deschodt

Fortuny worked in oils, gouache and tempera, creating his own color pigments. He favored copper plate etching, which, along with his painting, greatly influenced his later creations in silk and velvet. He learned the subtle use of color and the importance of light to achieve the dramatic effects seen in his textiles.

Here are  some of Fortuny’s paintings:

Una roccia a pareti verticali sulla riva del mare" 1948

Prove alla Scala di Milano

Ritratto di Henriette Fortuny in costume pompeiano, 1935

Here Fortuny painted his own Palazzo:

Interno dell'atelier del pittore a palazzo Pesaro-Orfei a Venezia

 

http://www.invertirenarte.es/mercadodearte/imagenes/Octubre%2027/duran_fortuny.jpg
Painted by Fortuny's father, Mariano Fortuny Y Marsal (1835 - 1874)

And last, but not least, my favorite:

Schizzo per la decorazione dell'atelier dell'artista a Venezia