Drawing Stone and Eating Lard

   

The courses here at USAC are varied and designed as ‘field studies.’  So most every course uses Viterbo or other cities as a resource for artwork, architecture, historical context, folk studies and anthropological studies.  There are times when we are in the classroom, of course, but the instructors really look for creative ways to get us out into the city for lessons and activities. 

My drawing and painting class has actually only met ONCE in a classroom and that was for a quick lesson on linear perspective.  So we are always out exploring and finding interesting drawing challenges.  AND in many ways, learning so much about the wealth of art in this city.

Today we went to Santa Maria della Verita.  This church and its adjacent monastic complex are actually outside the walls of the city.  They are next to the Porta della Verita (Gate of Truth) which was once known as the Gate of Saint Matthew or the Gate of the Abbott.  The monastery was founded in the second half of the 12^th century.  It is believed that the church was built around the same time as it has the same sort of Cistercian groove to it.  Very staid interiors with thick walls and few decorative elements. 

But the pride of the church IS actually the decorative element of frescoes done in 1469 by Lorenzo di Viterbo.  Their impressive renaissance style, glowing pigments, tender handling of figures (especially scene in the Marriage of the Virgin) and sly self-portrait make this series of paintings, seen within the Mazzatosta Chapel, truly a breathtaking delight.

Our class then went to the monastery next door which was appropriated in 1912 to use as a Civic Museum.  The cloister walk is where an impressive series of Etruscan sarcophagi are placed.  This is our lesson of the day.  Quick sketches of stone.  Work on shading and line.

After class…. Well, I simply had to join the Food Journalism class having lunch at Il Gargolo.  This small restaurant features regional specialties and is, yes, molto buono.  I had a steak, medium-rare, topped with shavings of white truffle and lard.  Yes, lard.  It was fabulous J

And so, the field trips continue!  Tomorrow my Medieval History/Dante class is going to Siena for the day.  I expect marvelous adventures and inspiration... as usual.  Ciao ragazzi!