Museum visit - memories of Rome

Long, meandering strolls in grand museums, eyes and mind open, soaking it all in, are an impossible dream at the moment. The memories however, are wonderful. This new scene is of a favorite, the Dora Pamphili in Rome. It's a quirky place, crammed with treasures and no doubt ill-gotten goods, collected by a family of powerful popes in the late Renaissance. The masterpiece of the place is the astounding portrait of Innocent X by Velasquez. Throughout you find classical paintings and sculpture crowded onto the walls and piled on shelves. You have to pay attention or you miss some of the jewels - an exquisite little Caravaggio, an unusual Raphael, etc, etc.

I couldn't resist this lineup of old Romans when I saw them huddled together as if whispering  judgment on passing museumgoers. Stern as they are, they humanize the grand imposing space around them. The first color I added is a rich raspberry color, meant to refer to the red walls that are a vogue for classical galleries. 

The next steps: opening up the door to the next room, and 'painting' the paintings. It's fun to make new versions of old paintings, giving them a bit of whimsy while staying fairly true to color and subject. Then details of shading on the busts and the sarcophagus, subtle but important, and the veining in the marble columns.
If you've been to the Dora Pamphili, let me know what you think! If you haven't, plan to go - someday!
This scene is one of many from my 2018 Rome sketchbook. Find more finished scenes of Italy and other beautiful places on my 'International Series' page as well as at www.etsy.com/shop/LinesandPlaces, and Shopify shop.macgregor-art.com/collections/international-series-of-fine-art-prints.  Ciao - be well and happy.