What could be better for an art lover than admiring a masterpiece, perhaps a painting, ideally positioned on a wall? The lighting—or sometimes the darkness—and the strategies behind the paths imagined by gallery curators often evoke feelings of joyful surprise, admiration, visual delight, awe, or even a sense of calm for the eyes (and the senses).
If we pay attention, paintings are like windows through which the artist invites us into a story, a narrative, or an event.
A story told in a single still image is what we call narrative magic, and the painter’s talent lies in capturing that precise moment.
This still image, often with infinite depth, exists physically on a two-dimensional surface.
But can a painting exist solely by virtue of its surface?
I would say no.
With this in mind, I’d like to explain how a painting, to truly narrate within its flatness, requires a series of elements that compose it—elements that lie behind it.
Like a game of deconstruction and reconstruction, I’d be delighted to describe and unveil the vast material universe that supports the image, working behind the scenes.
Program:
Introductions and overview of the session.
Analysis of an artwork (available for viewing) from a perceptive and aesthetic standpoint.
Discussion of the “organism” of an artwork.
Examination of the components of a painting:
The painted canvas and its structural elements, including:
Fixed and adjustable frames
Supporting canvas of various fibers, threads, and weaves
Preparation layers
Paint films
Protective layers
About Alfonso De Lorenzis
Restorer
Alfonso holds a second-level degree in Conservation and Restoration of Paintings and has completed a master’s program in Conservation of Paintings Through Minimal Intervention. He has collaborated on the restoration of various mural and textile-supported paintings with different restoration firms. Currently, he runs a workshop supervised by Erminio Signorini.
Who can join: Open to everyone!
Limited spots! Book now to secure your place in this fascinating exploration.