Palazzo Ducale, Urbino

(photo by Il Conte di Luna, 2007)

Since my helicopter is in the shop, I've downloaded an aerial view of Urbino and the Ducal Palace from the internet.  Duke Federigo da Montefeltro, the "Light of Italy" and still a local hero over 500 years later, built his palace in the mid-fifteenth century.  This UNESCO World Heritage Site is widely considered the perfect princely dwelling in the perfect medieval hilltop fortress town.

Here is a picture of Duke Fred, a fabled patron of the arts (including that youngster Raphael) and amasser of the second largest library in Italy after the Vatican.  One of the Renaissance's most famous Condottieri and inspiration for Machiavelli's "The Prince", the Duke was both a great warrior and leader of his people.  He lost his right eye in battle and later had surgeons cut out the bridge of his nose to improve his peripheral vision (all the better to see the assassination attempt coming at you...).

The Duke's private study.  About half the paintings of famous figures that line the upper wall are sepia photographic reproductions of originals that are now housed in the Louvre.  Monsieur Louvre, give them back!

In places like this there is always an overwhelming number of things one could photograph---in this case I decided to look down......it all just seems so perfectly Italian.

Walking around Urbino, Italy

One of the gateways entering the walled city. 

 Urbino is an ancient walled city in the Marche region of Italy.  A World Heritage Site with a history extending back to the time of the Romans, it reached its pinnacle of influence during the Renaissance under the patronage of Frederico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino.

View from entrance of Raphael's childhood home.

the main piazza....grappa central

The Ducal Palace on horizon.

Some Lovely Linen, V & A Collection I

An embroidered hanging made in 1896 at the Haslemere Peasant Industries workshop in Surrey, an artisans collaborative started by Godfrey Blount in 1894.  Haslemere Peasant Industries served as a marketing organization for local craftspeople and supported a London shop for the sale of work. This panel, one of the "Peasant Tapestries", is made using applique of linen on linen with the edging in linen thread.  It was designed by Godfrey Blount.

 A stenciled linen panel, characterized by soft colors and stylized motifs, designed and executed by George Walton in 1898.  Panels such as this were used as wall decorations.  This one, measuring about 2.5 by 6 feet was up over a door in the V&A.

 The central courtyard of the Victoria & Albert Museum, William Morris's home away from home.....

Red House Ceilings

One of the really spectacular aspects of Red House are the ceilings, many of which were hand-painted by Morris and his friends.  Some have since been repainted by subsequent owners but the main stairwell ceiling is still original (and smoke stained).

On many of the ceilings you can see the patterns punched with small holes on the ceiling board.  The docent said that Morris did this to guide the later painting (after the ceiling boards were installed).  In some rooms the ceilings were never painted but the pattern was punched.

Up the stairs and through this archway you find the hall with the ceiling below....

To the left is this bedroom.....

In the main living room the small window seat alcove sports the ceiling pattern below.....if the historians hadn't confirmed it was a pattern and color original to the house, I would have guessed this was painted in the sixties!

Love the castle turrets on the stair posts!

A beautiful three-quarter arch...

In the Morris bedroom is this reproduction of the famous blue serge bed-curtain embroidered by Janey.  I have always loved this pattern (daisy)----if I was ever stranded for a year on a desert island with nothing but yarn, fabric and a needle, this would be a great project!

I hope everybody was inspired by these pictures of Red House!  I want to go home and paint white rooms with fabulous ceilings and doors.   Next, the Ducal Palace in Urbino, Italy....

Red House...the main rooms

 Part 2 of the awesome tour through Red House.....The architect Philip Webb designed much of the furniture for Red House -- above is the hutch in the dining room painted in "Dragon's Blood" red.  (In yesterday's post you can see the floor plan of the house. )

Dining room fireplace with miter arch characteristic of much of the interior and exterior brickwork.  I love its 3-dimensionality.

The custom designed dining table with legs that carry out the house's castle turret theme.

As I am away from my library I can't look up the wallpaper pattern but I think it is sunflower?  Does anyone know?

View into dining room from hallway stairs.  I think the wallpaper in the hall is "Apple".

At some point a subsequent owner painted front and side panel paintings over in brown.  Too bad but I love the color of the rest of the piece....turquoise? verdigris?

Down the hall with Webb-designed lighting is a small sitting room with a fireplace that says "Our content is our best having".....obscure??

On the way up the stairs one passes another really simple sweet storage nook.

At the top of the stairs is the main living room with another large custom furniture piece by Webb.  Look at the minstrel gallery with the ladder on the left.  Morris's daughters Jenny and May must have loved this!  You can see the wall paintings by Burne-Jones on either side.

The living room fireplace....motto:  "Ars Longa, Vita Brevis":  Art is long, Life is short.

Below the Burne-Jones murals (unfortunately behind glass) is wainscoting that covers up paintings done by Morris.  Apparently much of the room was covered by his murals before later occupants painted the walls white---heathens!

This is a detail from a bedroom with "Dragon's blood" wooden beams and Marigold (?) wallpaper.  All the wallpaper was added subsequently as Morris did not use any in the house originally.

Tomorrow, the final Red House post....ceilings (incredible) and staircase (a masterpiece).  Ciao!