Two particularly notable paintings by Lavinia Fontana
In focus Antonella Guarracino In focus Antonella Guarracino

Two particularly notable paintings by Lavinia Fontana

It’s fair to say that almost every painting featured in Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker, the exhibition that the National Gallery of Ireland is currently dedicated to the Bolognese artist, has the power of charming the viewer but two in particular – Cleopatra (1585 ca. or 1605) and Venus and Mars (1595 ca.) – have had me hooked on their iconography since the exhibition opened in May.

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Atelier Lavinia Fontana
Exhibition review, In italiano Antonella Guarracino Exhibition review, In italiano Antonella Guarracino

Atelier Lavinia Fontana

Alla National Gallery of Ireland la mostra “Lavinia Fontana: pioniera e trasgressiva” celebra l’opera dell’artista bolognese che, precorrendo i tempi e trasgredendo le norme vigenti, fece dell’arte la propria professione e del genere del ritratto una raffinata forma di comunicazione.

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(re)Acting Rembrandt
In focus Antonella Guarracino In focus Antonella Guarracino

(re)Acting Rembrandt

The whole face has a life. Showing the whites of the eyes and opening the mouth in disbelief, Rembrandt’s face is acting. Or better re-acting. It’s as if I gave him a start coming from behind the corner, and he had exclaimed ‘Goodness! You gave me quite a turn, creeping up like that!’

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Two unconventional self-portraits for a twofold problem
In focus Antonella Guarracino In focus Antonella Guarracino

Two unconventional self-portraits for a twofold problem

How these two Baroque self-portraits, which resort to the personification of Painting to frame the artist as an object of admiration – or, someone may say, to divert viewers’ gaze from a face that didn’t launch a thousand ships, connect to one another despite all their notable differences?

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A putti bonanza in a limited palette
In focus Antonella Guarracino In focus Antonella Guarracino

A putti bonanza in a limited palette

A set of ten large paintings, displayed in one of the most recently redecorated rooms of Dublin Castle, has always made me gaze up with wonder because of the painting technique by which they were executed, but also the considerable (someone may say excessive) number of putti depicted.

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Talking (Dog) Portraits
Book review Antonella Guarracino Book review Antonella Guarracino

Talking (Dog) Portraits

With the old-favourite Italian saying in mind ‘Al cane manca solo la parola’ (that translates ‘if only they could speak’) and considering the life they lived, it is no surprise that the four-legged creatures featured in La mia storia nell’arte. Ritratti di cani memorabili have a story (or two) to tell. Four Italian authors have told their stories in a way that, though unconventional, makes the book differ from similar titles.

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A portrait true to (Spanish court) life
In focus Antonella Guarracino In focus Antonella Guarracino

A portrait true to (Spanish court) life

Until fairly recently, Portrait of Prince Alessandro Farnese was not one of the paintings I would have made a beeline for when calling in the National Gallery of Ireland. And yet it was the one I went looking for when the gallery finally re-opened its doors to visitors.

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Mental Bubble Wraps
Musings Antonella Guarracino Musings Antonella Guarracino

Mental Bubble Wraps

Coined by journalist Elizabeth Young, the expression refers to those pieces of writing that can be popped by bored or anxious readers the way bubble wraps are.

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Exhibiting Art in Georgian Ireland
Exhibition review Antonella Guarracino Exhibition review Antonella Guarracino

Exhibiting Art in Georgian Ireland

A review of Exhibiting Art in Georgian Ireland – The Society of Artists’ Exhibitions Recreated, an exhibition organised by the Irish Georgian Society to mark the restoration of the City Assembly House and to celebrate the Society of Artists in Ireland who erected the building over 250 years ago.

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Behind Me, Ahead of Me
Musings Antonella Guarracino Musings Antonella Guarracino

Behind Me, Ahead of Me

For the past two years I’ve looked back on the year that was ‘in art’, that is to say listing the places and the art exhibitions visited, but this time I feel I can’t leave out a couple of events that made the year truly memorable.

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Dublin Type
Photography Antonella Guarracino Photography Antonella Guarracino

Dublin Type

Once upon a time I used to stroll around the streets of Dublin with a DSLR camera around my neck looking for attractive and unusual type fonts and styles. The town and its surroundings never failed to deliver.

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Photo Opportunity
Photography Antonella Guarracino Photography Antonella Guarracino

Photo Opportunity

Every now and then, a notification that invites me to take photos and add them to Google Map appears in the upper left-hand corner of my mobile. I haven't turn it off yet because it amuses me more often than not.

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