Day 64: Finding Lost Places

Day 64: Finding Lost Places

The rain came down so hard yesterday that one had the sense it was making up for lost time.Despite the pouring rain, I went traipsing about in the Villa Borghese park in search of a small painting.After managing to get soaking wet, I found a part of the park I had never seen before. It’s hidden behind the villa and has the wonderful name Parco dei Diani. Diani are deer and as it turns out this park was full of deer and gazelle until the end of the 1800s where the prince kept them for his private hunting.The Old Cistern, Parco dei Daini8×6″Oil on Panel© Kelly Medford, 2012This building right on the edge of the park is a marvel. I took shelter under its eaves and was amazed to be looking into this. What a wonder, lost and forgotten over time.The building was built in the 1920s ans was used to deal with the overflow of water in the park. In fact inside it still has a plaque dedicated to King Savoia and Mussolini. This is not an uncommon sight in Rome, but I must admit that it is always surprising to see.I could immediately envision the abandoned place and moody light as a painting. Although I was wet, I was grateful to have found such a new and interesting place to paint.A friend and wonderful painter Stefano Bolcato based here in Rome did a painting of the building from the outside. I wanted to share it here with you in order to give you a sense of the place.Il Giorno e La Notte© Stefano BolcatoYou can see today’s painting or buy it here from my website for $120.Thanks so much for following the 120 Day Project!