We suppose, in this age of instant communications on social media, that postcard-sending, like letter-writing, is a dying art. But we think there’s nothing nicer, especially for the children and…
The life and inspiring works of the artist who gives your room his name: 5. Filippo Brunelleschi *** Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446), truly a Renaissance Man, built the soaring, gravity-defying dome of…
There used to be an expression “the Greeks had a word for it,” a coded comment, the ‘it’ being something that could not be openly expressed at the time of…
July and August in Fivizzano are high summer in Italy. Thanks to the elevation (300 or so metres) and the river that babbles beside us, we’re cooler than elsewhere in…
Didn’t have time to fit in a convivially creative painting course at the Watermill this year? Come and join us live online for the next best thing! Yes we’re we’re…
Agnolo Bronzino, Eleonora di Toledo and her son Giovanni de’ Medici. The Uffizi Gallery, Florence. Public domain: Google Art Project via Wikimedia Commons. The life and inspiring works of the…
The life and inspiring works of the artist who gives his name to your room: 3: Sandro Botticelli *** We’ll bet you’ve never heard of Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni…
The life and inspiring works of the artist who gives her name to your room: 2: Sofonisba Anguissola*** This delightful family portrait, of her three younger sisters playing chess, was…
We call our Watermill courses ‘convivial creativity’ and we believe that creativity is often a communal, collaborative affair. There is individual genius, of course, but for it to flourish fully…
The first of our artists whose life and times are celebrated in Watermill bedroom names: 1. Alberti*** Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) was an extraordinary Renaissance polymath: architect, artist, author, mathematician,…
Yes, when Flavio Terenzoni, our gardener, brought in the pumpkin and the sinuous squash, and when painting tutor Crystal Beshara arranged them in an artistic still-life, Bill couldn’t resist…
You may recollect that a few weeks back we told you about Watermill guest Doug Freerksen’s fascination with ancient artefacts at the Watermill, particularly some of the doors. Doug, from Oak…