Tag: Rome

I must confess I’ve never been to Rome and the Italian town is on my bucket list for a number of reasons, one of which is the chance to see Michelangelo’s frescoes.

It’s been decades since I wrote one of my favorite poems, “Art:History,” but my desire to see the Sistine Chapel in Rome has never abated. The poem’s inspiration was the section of The Last Judgement depicting god pointing toward Adam, his finger almost touching the nude man’s outstretched hand. I came to respect the artist even more after reading his letters because he never deemed himself worthy of painting the elaborate project.

“I am still in a great quandary, because it is now a year since I had a grosso from this Pope and I do not ask for anything because my work does not seem to me to go ahead in a way to merit it. This is due to the difficulty of the work and also because it is not my profession. In consequence, I lose my time fruitlessly. May God help me.” It’s so ironic to me that he is calling for the grace of god to help him while he is painting one of the greatest representations of forgiveness and wrath that has ever been accomplished. My poem isn’t about Michelangelo but his art was my jumping off point.

Creative Writing Literature Travel

Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan

This essay channeling Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan is included in my book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book feature similar literary…

Architecture Cultural Explorations Mythology

A Passion for Paestum

Saxon Henry April 25, 2020 Greek deities Italy keeping diaries libraries nonfiction writers Rome set decoration summer reading list Venice

This essay featuring three important perceptions of the archaeological site in Paestum, Italy, is included in my new book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other…

medieval personality exudes from Castel Monastero

Creative Writing Cultural Explorations Travel

The Personality of Place

Saxon Henry April 20, 2018 famous writers Florence historic castles Italy keeping diaries Michelangelo nobility poetry Renaissance Rome salonniere The Literary Adventurer

So, this is how it feels to experience a medieval Tuscan village that has existed on a hillside in some form for almost 1000 years!…

Architecture Garden Design Mythology Travel

Far from Oblivious in Bologna

Saxon Henry March 2, 2018 architectural storytelling Baroque Era Dante Alighieri famous writers Greek deities historic castles Italy Medieval Times Napoleon Petrarch Rome

If you find yourself strolling along the streets of Bologna near the city’s center, don’t be surprised if you turn a corner and come upon…

Cultural Explorations DesignLabs Historical Design

Madame Récamier and the Art of Reclining

Saxon Henry December 5, 2017 books of letters Dante Alighieri decorating history Empire Style fine antiques fine porcelain France French aristocracy House of Bourbon keeping diaries literary design encounters Louis XVI Madame de Sevigne Marquise de Rambouillet memoirs monarchs Napoleon nobility Paris Petrarch philosophers Rome salonniere Shakespeare Venice

Jeanne-Françoise Julie Adélaïde Bernard, known after her marriage as Juliette Récamier, was born on December 4, 1777—240 years ago yesterday. Had she lived during modern…

Art Fashion Literature

Vigée Le Brun’s Passion for Painting

Saxon Henry August 20, 2016 authenticity demi-monde documentaries Florence France French aristocracy Greek deities House of Bourbon Italy Louis XV Louis XVI Marie Antoinette memoirs monarchs New York City nobility painters Parma philosophers Rome Royal Courtiers royal palaces salonniere Venice Versailles

A Passion for Painting Billowing ruched fabric, pointy toes of dainty shoes visible from beneath flounced skirts hemmed in gold fringes and ornate trims. A bejeweled…

Historical Design Interior Design Mythology

Rewriting the Myth of Pandora

Saxon Henry June 29, 2016 antiques shopping in Europe classical antiquity design industry leaders design narratives fine antiques Greek deities High Point Market literary design encounters New York City Rome

I’ve always been fascinated by the myth of Pandora because the most widely accepted explanation of this parable—that feminine curiosity “is responsible for all the…

The Basilica of St. Francis, as seen from below

DesignLabs Furniture Design Travel

It Is Time to Experience More

Saxon Henry March 24, 2016 Beinecke Library cathedrals to explore design industry leaders Edith Wharton Emotionality of Architecture famous writers Henry James High Point Market Italy libraries lighting Medieval Times Michelangelo novelists painters Rome salonniere Yale University

Experience more. It sounds like a simple directive but how many of us really take the time to savor what is happening right in front…

Art Literature

God’s Articulate Finger

Saxon Henry December 28, 2015 American poets authenticity books of letters cathedrals to explore dead poets society Florence Italy Michelangelo New York City nobility painters poetry Renaissance Rome

Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel In this last entry of the year, I wanted to share a piece of my own creative writing to say…

John, Jr., playfully tugs at one of the three strands of Jackie’s famous simulated pearl necklace

Fashion Furniture Design Historical Design

One Special Summer with Jackie O

Saxon Henry September 15, 2015 Atlanta British poets Chinoiserie decorating history design narratives Empire Style England Ernest Hemingway fine antiques Florence France grand residences Great Britain Henry VIII Italy lighting London Louis XV Louis XVI monarchs Napoleon New York City nobility Paris philosophers Regency Era Rococo Style Rome Royal Courtiers royal palaces Shakespeare Tudor Era Venice Washington DC

Hegel’s caveat “history teaches us nothing” may be relevant in cultural and philosophical realities but in the design world the statement is far from succinct.…