The Italian youth magazine Focus Junior and the MIBAC (ministry for the arts) have come up with an interesting collaboration to promote twelve lesser-known museums in Italy, amonst them the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence for …

I feel like my first “major” article of the year on this blog should be arts related, and know that I’ve been somewhat remiss both about posting, and in writing about the arts. The fact …

You’d have to have been dropped on the head when young to not notice the fortuitous timeliness of this Fall’s exhibits at Palazzo Strozzi – upstairs “Money and Beauty: Bankers, Botticelli and the Bonfire of the Vanities” and downstairs “Declining Democracy”. Both exhibits are equally contemporary, and they will make you reflect upon our current, collective situation whether you’re an Italian resident or a visitor from abroad.

The British Institute of Florence has brought to my attention two interesting short courses in Renaissance art history, one a hands on workshop, the other a thematic course inspired by the forthcoming exhibit at Palazzo …

Everything has been done before. The fact that we keep repeating ourselves is undeniable by anyone who observes any sector of human life, from fashion, which is constantly undergoing revivals, to art which seldom says …

Our relationship with the visual arts is often emotional and personal. Most people are not able to explain what it is that they like about a given painting, in part because our education system does …

The new Museo del Novecento (20th century art) in Milan opened December 6 2010 and admission is free until February 28 2011. The combination free + new museum made me take a trip to Milan …

Italy is not known for its contemporary art – at least not lately, and not in Italy itself. Recently a Tripadvisor member posted a question about where to see contemporary art in Tuscany and Italy …

In 2009 I taught a course called “Women and Art in Early Modern Italy” and I realized that some of this material could be useful to researchers or students online. I’m writing up some reflections …

The Warhol Badge on Foursquare is unlocked when you check in to 10 venues tagged “gallery”. Well you-know-who just went and tagged all the museums in Florence with ‘gallery” so get to work!! Check in …

Diego della Valle for Tod’s (the fancy shoe company) has pledged 25 million euros for the 15-year restoration of the Colosseum. The proposal, made last August to the Soprintendenza, has been accepted and announced officially …

My colleague Michela sent me a link today to an article about Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. It seems that every month now someone comes up with some great new revelation about this painting. Thanks to recent …