“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
~ Psalm 19:1
All around us is evidence that God is, that He creates, that He loves creating, and that He enjoys beauty.
For thousands of adventurous and creative thinkers searching for beauty in the 18th and 19th centuries, taking a grand tour of the art capitals of Europe was the thing to do.
And of all the places they visited, Italy was the one they thought most mesmerizing.
They could not stop talking about what they had experienced in “la Bell’Italia.”
The English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley gushed:
“How beautiful is sunset, when the glow of Heaven descends upon a land like thee, Thou Paradise of exiles, Italy. ”
And, Mark Twain, the American writer, in a less-flowery fashion, expressed much the same thing:
“The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo.”
There’s no doubt about it. Italy’s beauty, like all creation, points to the Creator.
Consider the Colosseum, Michelangelo’s David, the Pantheon, the floating city “Venice,” and da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
The sheer quantity and quality of the art and architecture that native artisans and builders have created over the centuries on that singular strip of land will blow you away again and again.
And the land itself, the rice bowl of Europe, produces all kinds of lush fruit: plump tomatoes and peaches, grapes, oranges, figs, apricots, and lemons.
From this same soil, grows the grass on which many of the continent’s most prized breeds of cows, water buffalo, and sheep graze.
As a result, you get to sample the most velvety mozzarella and ricotta cheeses the world has ever known.
Sounds luscious, right?
But guess what? That bit of creation where you live also points to God.
So, consider making a grand tour of your city.
Is there a kind of crop that grows locally that out-of-towners come to sample and savor?
Or is there a local bakery that sells a morning pastry so amazing that you’ll roll out of bed earlier than usual to snag one rather than risk going without?
Maybe you know of a taco joint or barbecue pit that’s so popular that people line up from the moment the doors open until they post the “SOLD OUT” sign.
You could be surrounded by mountains that attract hikers and climbers from all over.
Or pristine beaches with salty-sweet breezes to which hordes of visitors flock every summer.
All of these are beautiful experiences, are they not?
Then go. And go again.
Whatever you find that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy right where you are, dwell on and enjoy it to the max. (Philippians 4.8)
When you enjoy such things, the Original Thingmaker is pleased and enjoys them with you.
PAINTING ACROSS BORDERS
🎨THE OTHER MICHELANGELO
Arriving nearly 70 years after Michelangelo Buonarroti, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio brought an intensity to Baroque art that still stirs us today.
In The Calling of St. Matthew, the artist brings divine drama down to earth. Jesus’ choosing the tax collector as one of the Twelve not only startles the onlookers but will surprise Matthew himself.
How does Caravaggio do this?
With bold shadows and a shaft of light, he captures the exact moment grace interrupts the ordinary, much like his own life, which was steeped in trouble yet touched by brilliance.
YOUR TURN: Recreate the mood or message of Caravaggio’s “Calling of St. Matthew” in your preferred medium, be it paint, words, photography, or something else.
QUOTES FOR CREATIVES BY CREATIVES
🖊️ITALY’S TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT
These reflections reveal what so many creatives have felt for centuries — that Italy is a land where art, history, and everyday beauty don’t just coexist, they ignite something in you.
“The Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s frescoes makes you feel that art is called to something higher than mere beauty.”
German poet, playwright, novelist, and amateur artist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (from his travelogue, Italian Journey)
“We overwhelm our senses in the Vatican museum, gawk in wonder at Renaissance artistry, and gape at Michelangelo’s offering to the Sistine Chapel. . . I want my kids to understand the magnitude of this history but I don’t think I understand it myself.”
American writer and podcaster Tsh Oxenreider
English poet Robert Browning
“Open my heart, and you will see graved inside of it ‘Italy.’”
REFLECT AND JOURNAL: What places call to you as an artist or a person who loves to make things? How can you answer that call without leaving home?
TUNES AROUND THE WORLD
🎻CLASSIC CLASSICAL ITALIAN HITS
Do you like listening to classical music while you work?
These three tunes by two of Italy’s classical music superstars will thrill you with their excellence.
They inspire me to do my best, and I pray they do the same for you.
- “Caruso” by Luciano Pavarotti. The legendary tenor infuses this love song with so much passion that you can’t help but feel it, too.
- “Caro Mio Ben” by Cecilia Bartoli. Hearing Italy’s most beloved mezzo-soprano perform this often-sung piece so beautifully reminds me there’s a difference between singing and singing. That Bartoli does the latter is clear, particularly when she executes the highest notes so softly.
- “Turandot, Act III: Nessun dorma!” by Luciano Pavarotti. This is Pavarotti’s most celebrated performance ever. The final notes may bring you to your feet, clasping your hands with joy (from your dining room table,) as they did me. Because, Wow, he nailed it!
And having seen the video of Pavarotti singing “Nessun Dorma!” I’m guessing he may have had a similar thought. Why not take a look and see if you agree?
🎙️Listen in here: Spotify.
Remember that product I’ve been preparing for you that will help you immerse yourself in Italian culture at home?
The earliest reviews from the beta group clients are in. Here are just a few of their comments:
“I’m excited to start.”
“I feel curious and intrigued.”
“The visuals are absolutely gorgeous.”
I’m looking forward to that day in June when you can be among the first to experience Italy at Home!
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