Dear Shaded Viewers,
It was almost like that scene in The Great Beauty, when Ramona and Jep are taken on a tour of secret places in Rome by the mysterious man who holds all the keys to the hidden palazzos and gardens. Fuzzy with jet-lag, I was delighted when me and the rest of the fashion pack passed through the front gates of the Villa Giulia. Built by Pope Julius III, a highly literate connoisseur of the arts, in 1551 – 1553 on what was then the edge of the city, the villa is one of the most delicate examples of Mannerist architecture.
Housed within the ground’s walls is the Museo Nazionale Etrusco which houses a treasure trove of Etruscan relics. After we wandered idly through the garden and among the silent river gods, we began to wonder why exactly we were here. Eventually we meandered through the museum, taking in the awe-inspiring Etruscan phalluses and all manner of anciety weaponry.
After a long climb to the tippy-top of the museum, we finally stumbled upon the exhibit and book launch of Made in Italy: Una Visione Modernista–a celebration of of the works of fashion photographer Johnny Moncada and artists Gastone Novelli and Achille Perilli. During the period of 1956-1965, Moncada and these avant-garde artists collaborated with fashion designer Luisa Spagnoli.
The photographs demonstrate the relationship between fashion and art that came together at the artists’ studios in the historic courtyard of via Margutta. They depict a female universe in which the modern woman was surrounded by the graphics and images created by the artists. Published by Silvanan Editoriale, the Made in Italy catalogue is now available. For more info, I suggest contacting ufficiostampa@altaroma.it
During my ramble through the museum, I ran into art director extraordinaire Simone Ferrari and the lovely Loane & dashing Diego Buongiorno of the brand-new band Birds of Leonis. Diego and Loane presented their music at the LuigiMaria Borbone couture show earlier that day.
More beauty in the Villa Giulia…looks like a mer-deer…or the cousin of my astrological sign, the sea goat.
A river god presents his morning horn of plenty.
Baci,
