Don’t overlook open church doors in Spello: one actually opens to the studio of a talented artist who creates his wonders in the de-consecrated church dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo.
A poster on the side wall near the church entrance aptly describes the masterpieces of Marchionni: “Tra Sacro e Profano” (“Between the Sacred and the Profane”)….
….as you can see in these art works:
Maestro Elvio Marchionni paused near a few of his splendid artworks and told us about the unique technique he uses to create: “strappi.”
“Strappi” (“that which is torn off”) are painted on plaster “torn off” ancient abandonded rural buildings, in the Umbrian countryside.
Do see here how Marchionni creates his masterpieces on the “strappi”: https://www.gemma-clarke.com/photography/artist-elvio-marchionni-spello-italy
…and in this note, see also the portrait of Pope Francis which Marchionni gave to the Pope. And not only.
A Marchionni gem hangs in the Spello Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, just to the left the chapel adorned with the Renaissance masterpieces of Pinturicchio:
On a recent Spello tour, George, Michelle and friends stopped in to see the Marchionni art work with me:
George was taken by the cat in a Marchionni strappi still life: Marchionni’s own cat.
Surprises often highlight the Maestro’s artistic splendor.
And let Michelle tell you.
“During Annie’s tour of Spello, we experienced a truly “outside of time” visit to the studio of international artist Elvio Marchionni. We were immediately transported back to the medieval and Renaissance paintings so much a part of any tour of Italy. But Marchionni is a contemporary artist who is able to bridge past and present, both in technique and materials. We were very fortunate to meet him. His kindness and humor with Annie highlighted the warmth of the studio and its subjects of beautiful figures familiar with the faces of the Umbrian people.
Stacks of Marchionni’s canvases in the studio reveal masterpieces painted on plaster from the sides of old farmhouses. This informal atmosphere belies the reallity that each of these paintings could be hung in exhibitions across the globe. He has won international fame for his portrait of the Pope and St. Francis. To the local church of Santa Maria Maggiore, he has donated a contemporary fresco which hangs close to Pinturicchio’s Renaissance masterpiece: The Annunciation. His artisitic conflation of form and spirit underscores the sign in his studio announcing that Marchionni’s work honors both the profane and the sacred.”
Micbelle and George, thanks for sharing in the Marchionni artistic mastery.
Read this note on a past visit to Elvio Marchioni.
See this note on the Pinturicchio masterpieces.
Read about Spello’s extraordinary floral tapestry festival
