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Perceptual tours in Italy
 
An experiential journey through art and history
It is no exaggeration to say that Europe's way of seeing underwent a complete shift during the early 15th century... which happens to be what beginning students also undergo when they learn to draw in our workshops! From this analogy came the idea to combine a exploration of the source of this revolution in Northern Italy with an intensive initiation to perceptual drawing. The two components work in synergy: learning to draw brings aliveness and relevance to the cultural tour, while the journey in search of the earliest masterpieces of that new perspective adds context to the new learning with rich links to the history of art, science, technology and philosophical ideas.
The two-week tour covers Florence and several destinations in Tuscany (the Chianti hills, Siena, Arezzo, Sansepolcro, Pienza, Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Montepulciano), Marche (Urbino) and Northern Italy (Padova, Vicenza, Mantova), with a focus on this theme. Therefore, we do not always visit the best-known attractions in each city, and we sometimes see lesser-known places of particular interest for our topic. The cultural background is presented by local guides and art historians as well as art educators and practitioners with contrasting viewpoints, thus providing lively and entertaining conversations.
Most of the experiential workshop takes place during the first half of the program, in order to afford participants the opportunity to record their visual impressions in their sketchbooks, like the travelers of yesteryear. All art supplies and sighting tools are provided at the beginning of the tour in an individual kit. In addition to the drawing workshop, the program includes experiential activities: we reenact Brunelleschi's historic experiments on perspective in the Florence squares where they occurred and we play in "perspective laboratories" designed by a Florentine artist. We even find the time for great food, relaxation and a visit to a winery and cheese factory with special tastings and initiation to Tuscan cuisine.
Beyond the experience and the memories, participants go home with a new skill that truly understand in its original context and that they can continue to refine and draw pleasure from on their own.
[see itinerary]
  A cultural tour in search of the roots of realistic art
For those who are less inclined to combine their vacation with learning a new skill, we offer an expanded version of the tour without the drawing workshop. That journey goes on to Rome, where we see several spectacular examples of illusionism, and to Pompeii, where we get a new "perspective" on the mystery of who invented realistic painting. What did the fresco artists of 300 B.C. know and why did it disappear from European culture for over 1500 years?
[see itinerary]
Custom-designed and private tours
Between these two versions, the ratio of experiential learning to touring can be tailored to the group's preferences. For example, the drawing course could be only ten hours long, which would allow the group to visit more sites.
Custom and private tours to Italy on themes related to art and cuisine can be designed upon request. Please contact us for details. We are looking for art colleges, university studio art departments, art history departments, art academies and art museums to partner with in offering these programs. Institutional development offices can use them as effective fundraising tools. Please use the Contact Us form. |
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