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| Untitled / 24 x 30 / oil on canvas |
Still on the easel - this is at least the third painting on this particular canvas - the other two being wipe offs. I wonder if I will keep this one......
And then there was Rome! What a magnificent city - so ancient and so new. I loved every minute of exploring it. This is the lobby of the Marriott Grand Flora Hotel with hundreds of tennis balls hanging from the ceiling - we discovered that the Italian Tennis Open was being played in Rome the week we were there. We had a magnificent room - complete with feather mattress on the bed and balcony over looking the Borghese Villa and gardens. I had no trouble falling asleep in Rome!
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| Marriott Grand Flora Hotel - Rome |
The daytime view from our balcony overlooking the Borghese ruins. The Vatican was not far in this direction also and the American Embassy was a short walk down the street. It was a perfect location.
Some incredible churches that we happened upon as we explored Rome - we saw so many - each one more beautiful than the last.
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| Church interior with mass in progress |
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| Church with gorgeous life size wooden crucifixion carvings |
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| A not atypical church entry |
The Pantheon is in such perfect condition you would think it was built yesterday however it was completed by the Emperor Hadrian in about 125 AD. The rotunda is resplendent with sculptures and art work and is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete done. The Pantheon is still actively used as a church with masses held every Sunday and has also functioned as a tomb. I was surprised to learn that the painter Raphael, 2 Italian kings and a queen are all buried here.
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| The Pantheon - under the rotunda |
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| Inside the Pantheon |
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| Roman rooftops |
Our next stop was the Colosseum. We spent several hours there exploring and wondering about the intricate Roman engineering that allowed it to function. Not only did it house the gladiators and many very large, wild animals beneath the main arena - there were very sophisticated mechanisms for moving them about and up to the arena. And did you know that it was occasionally flooded and ships held mock battles there? It was an almost inconceivable drainage system that allowed this to occur.
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| My family and I at the Colosseum - typical tourists! |
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| The Colosseum held over 50,000 people and it was not hard to imagine the spectacles that unfolded here. |
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| Inside a Roman delicatessen! |
What a holiday trip - and more yet to tell you about!
Outstanding photos Susan!!!! I have to admit if I ever visited Rome, I would go to visit the Churches! I can't believe how beautiful they are...thank you for sharing! Your painting is fabulous!!! Gorgeous colors! You look beautiful standing by your painting!!!
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a church on every street - its hard not to want to go into them all! Thank you for the lovely comment :)!
DeleteHi my friend Susan.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you have finished this painting but it is beautiful. Thank you for the photos, they are great. All the best.
Vic.
It is finally finished to day, Vic. I ddid love Rome - what a unique city
DeleteI LOVE your painting! It's so lively and bursting with color. I notice you have a book on Amsterdam under the vase, too. And, how amazingly beautiful You look as well. Your photos were so inpiring! What a dream trip you and your family took! I envy you and congratulate you for taking the trip at the time you did with your children. You and they will always have those memories of that extraordinary trip!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Carol, for your wonderful comment. It was a trip we will always remember!
DeleteI love the painting, the books are so nice under the vase! Oh and Rome..... sigh.... wish I could visit Rome some day.... wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteMy kids bought me some art books for Mother's Day while we were in Europe - the painting is kind of a summary of the spirit and enjoyment of our trip.
DeleteOh my! When I opened the photo, at first glance I actually thought you were standing next to your Still Life set up! Then I realised that it was the painting! That was quite an illusion! I think it is fabulous! I've never been to Rom myself. It's on my bucket list. It looks like an amazing place. Don't they say that Rome is the most romantic city in the world?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra - the flowers are wee a bit larger than life! Rome is absolutely amazing - and yes, very romantic. Our hotel with the beautiful balcony was such a romantic spot at night overlooking the softly lit Borghese ruins. It was great!
DeleteSusan, je schilderij is prachtig geworden !
ReplyDeleteMooie foto's van je reis hoor !
groetjes van Simonne
Your comment is so appreciated, Simonne, as you are a master at painting flowers! Thank you.
DeleteYour trip sounds like it was awesome, as is this painting. No scrape off required!
ReplyDeleteAwesome is the right right word to describe it, Tina! Thanks for your support!
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