Leonardo da Vinci

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Monument to Leonardo da Vinci by Pietro Magni, 1872
Piazza della Scala
Milan, November 2016

“Pietro Magni (October 21, 1817 - January 20, 1877) was an Italian sculptor. Born in Milan, he studied at that city's Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera before moving to the workshop of Abbondio Sangiorgio. Later in his career he became influenced by Tuscan sculptor Lorenzo Bartolini, whose work he first encountered in 1837. He traveled to study in Rome, joining Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1849. He is best known for his Girl Reading, first carved in 1856; today the original may be seen in Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Milan, while copies exist in numerous other museum collections, e.g. in Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, Lisbon. Among Magni's other works are a public monument to Leonardo da Vinci and several marble sculpture groups; he also executed statues for the Milan Cathedral in the 1860s.” (Pietro Magni, Wikipedia)

The Terrible Fear of Peace

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“The Terrible Fear of Peace” by Smile, 2016
Archer Street, Soho
London, September 2016

My Favorite Pastry

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My favorite pastry in Florence
Caffè La Loggia degli Albizi
Borgo degli Albizi
Florence, January 2017

Wonder Wheel

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Wonder Wheel, Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
Coney Island, Brooklyn
New York, September 2007

“The Wonder Wheel was invented by Charles Herman and built between 1918 and 1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company. The steel used in the construction of the pleasure wheel is of 100 percent Bethlehem Steel, and was forged on location. The Wheel opened on Memorial Day, 1920. There were 18 original co-owners of the ride. Herman called it the ‘Dip-the-Dip’ promising to combine in his new invention the thrill of a scenic railway, the fun of a Ferris wheel, and the excitement of the Chute-the-Chutes. An article written about the ride in Science and Invention said the Wheel was a ‘real thrill like you have probably never had before-at least not at this great height.’ Deno D. Vourderis bought the Wonder Wheel on June 7, 1983 from Fred Garms, the son of Charles Herman. The Vourderis family restored the Wheel to perfect condition and made the Wonder Wheel the central attraction of Deno's Wonder Wheel Park. In 1989 the Wheel was designated as an official New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Since it opened over 35 million rides have been given on the Wheel.” (Wonder Wheel, Wikipedia)

Putto with Fish

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Sculpture by Giovanni Tomaso Orsolio, 1699
Fountain of Piazza delle Erbe
Genoa, April 2016

Broadgate Apple

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“Broadgate Apple” by Tom Hare, 2014
Site-specific woven willow sculpture
Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate
London, September 2016

“The piece was created for our Savour Broadgate Season, which explored great food and drink across campus in spring. Now sited in Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate Apple welcomes visitors and passers-by to this iconic space, bringing a taste of nature and fresh produce to our City location. Tom Hare is a contemporary sculptor whose principal medium is willow. Important large-scale commissions include those undertaken for the Millennium Seed Project at the National Trust’s Wakehurst Place Estate in East Sussex and London’s Royal Botanic Kew Gardens. ” (Focus on Tom Hare, Broadgate)

The Martyrs of Fiesole

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Monument to the Carabinieri by Marcello Guasti, 1964
Parco della Rimembranza (Remembrance Park), Fiesole
Florence, April 2015

“In the hills above Florence, on the edge of the cliff that rims the village of Fiesole, there’s a monument to three military police officers – carabinieri – who sacrificed themselves to the Nazis so that 10 innocent hostages would not be killed. On August 12, 1944, the three officers stood against the wall of the Hotel Aurora, by the village’s main square, and were shot to death.” (The martyrs of Fiesole, Rebecca Bricker)