#125 Five Ghirlandaio Paintings I Love ~ And Why, a lecture by Paola Vojnovic

Saturday, September 5th Live on Zoom

10am Los Angeles / 1pm New York / 6pm London / 7pm Florence

To open the new season of Studiolo, please join me for a personal journey through five paintings by one of my favorite artists, Domenico Ghirlandaio.

Few painters bring Renaissance Florence to life quite like Ghirlandaio. His frescoes and portraits are filled with exquisitely dressed Florentines, magnificent interiors, familiar streets, intimate gestures, and wonderfully observed faces. Look closely, and sacred stories become windows onto the very real world of fifteenth-century Florence—a city of beauty and ambition, family and faith, wealth, fashion, and extraordinary artistic invention.

Together, we’ll look closely at what makes each one special, uncover some of the people and stories hidden within them. Along the way, we’ll encounter the Florence Ghirlandaio knew, the remarkable patrons he painted, and the young Michelangelo, who entered his busy workshop as an apprentice.

This complimentary season-opening event is also an invitation to discover Paola’s Studiolo—a place to slow down, look closely, and follow our curiosity.

Paola Vojnovic is a Renaissance art historian, curator, published author, and cultural heritage specialist.  She holds master’s degrees in Renaissance Art History from Syracuse University and in the Preservation and Management of Archaeological, Historical and Artistic Heritage from the Università di Siena, and was the recipient of Syracuse University’s prestigious Renaissance Florence Fellowship. An authorized guide in Florence and Tuscany since 2008, Paola has shared her passion for Italian art and culture with visitors from around the world, including leading figures from the arts, entertainment, media, and business.

For a decade, Paola worked with the Opera di Santa Croce in Florence, where she edited and co-authored publications and spearheaded international fundraising campaigns for the restoration of Renaissance masterpieces from the Basilica of Santa Croce, including Brunelleschi’s Pazzi Chapel and Michelangelo’s tomb. Her research and writing have appeared in books and international publications, and she has contributed to documentary and film projects on Florence and its cultural heritage.

Today, she is the creator and host of Paola’s Studiolo, an intimate cultural salon inspired by the Renaissance tradition of the studiolo, bringing together leading art historians, museum curators, authors, artists, and thinkers for conversations about art, ideas, and the enduring pleasure of looking and learning.

Paola is a member of the Renaissance Society of America, and often acts as a liaison between museums and clients to provide special behind-the-scenes access. Since leaving her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, Paola divides her time between Viareggio, Florence and Venice. Read more about her in The Florentine. 

To RSVP: Paola50122@gmail.com

Minimum suggested donation: $28

This talk is free for Friends of Paola's Studiolo!

Look forward to seeing you on Zoom!