The Bishop’s Palace, Frascati

The Bishop’s Palace, Frascati

Though a Bishop’s Palace from the 15th century, the round tower punctuating this palace makes me think of a lighthouse.Il Palazzo Vescovile, Frascati12 x7.5″oil on paper mounted on board©Kelly Medfordclick here for purchase informationThis town called Frascati, perched on a hill south of Rome towers over an otherwise delicate square open on one side overlooking Rome from the south.I was painting here Monday for this week’s Rome cityscaping painting workshop and really was excited by the vibrant shadows happening in these forms.This day was spent focusing on tonal values in a painting, searching for the relationships between light and dark. This is one of the several most important principles in plein air oil painting and worthy of more than just a day’s study. In fact, any painter will spend their life getting these relationships right in each painting newly.This palace got its shape from its original purpose as a fortress built under the rule of Pius II in the mid-1400s. It was later donated to the bishops of Frascati. It has been meticulous maintained and provided the perfect subject to study for the afternoon.Join me for a sketchookbook journaling or plein air workshop in Italy.Click here to see all upcoming available dates