Life and works of David Seymour: master of photography and chronicler of the 20th century

Tuesday December 19th, 2023 , Artists and Works

Venice, Italy, 1950 © David Seymour/Magnum Photos

Have you ever wondered who is the creator of the famous photograph taken in Venice, the one showing in an almost surreal way a gondolier arriving at an ‘Esso’ filling station on the Grand Canal?
This iconic work was taken by David Seymour, also known as ‘Chim’, back in 1950.

This image is part of a larger project that Seymour dedicated to post-war and reconstruction Europe, full of stories to tell. The life and works of David Seymour offer a fascinating look at the 20th century, through the eyes of a man who lived and documented some of the most significant moments in recent history.
In this post, I want you to discover Seymour, a man whose lens captured as much the beauty as the tragedies of his time.

Life and works of David Seymour: master of photography and chronicler of the 20th century

May 3, 1808 by Goya

Monday December 18th, 2023 , Artists and Works

Have you ever wondered what Goya’s painting May 3, 1808 represents and what its significance is?
Art has the power to capture historical moments and make us reflect on them, and this painting is a snapshot of a tragic and unforgettable moment in human history.
Let’s find out together what it represents and some interesting facts.

May 3, 1808 by Goya: what it represents and interesting facts

Capitoline Museums: how to get tickets online

Friday December 15th, 2023 , Museum Tickets

The millenary history of the Eternal City can be seen not only by strolling through the streets of the historic centre – in itself an open-air museum – but also by entering the museums of Rome, which are numerous and scattered throughout the city. From the best known and oldest, such as the Vatican Museums, the Palatine Gallery or the Capitoline Museums, to the smaller and lesser known ones. These include the Museum of Rome in Palazzo Braschi, created in 1930 out of the Museum of the Empire and now housing more than 120,000 objects including works of art, documents, photographs and prints, or the Napoleonic Museum, a testimony to the relationship between the Bonaparte family and Rome, born from the collection of Giuseppe Primoli, a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The works in the Capitoline Museums

Dürer’s works: what they are and where to see them

Thursday December 14th, 2023 , Artists and Works

Do you know the works of Dürer and why he is considered a genius artist?
In this post, I want to introduce you to the masterpieces of Albrecht Dürer, a master of the Nordic Renaissance and famous for his revolutionary approach to art.
Born in Nuremberg in 1471, Dürer left an indelible mark on the art world not only as a painter, but also as an exceptionally talented engraver. The son of a goldsmith, he learnt the techniques of engraving on both wood and metal and used them to create extraordinary works.

The Works of Albrecht Dürer: Genius of the Northern Renaissance

The Museum of Forbidden Art: a refuge for censored works

Wednesday December 13th, 2023 , Cities of Art, Museums

Is there a place where censored art can find its voice?
A unique museum in the heart of Barcelona is dedicated precisely to forbidden, or rather ‘censored’, art.
Called the ‘Museum of Forbidden Art‘, this extraordinary cultural space houses works that have been hidden elsewhere because they have caused scandal and social controversy, raised thorny political or religious issues.
In this post, I introduce you to the Forbidden Art Museum.