Piazza Italia, the square where the town comes together
The statue of blades that celebrates Maniago history during the #italiagrandsketchingtour.
Maniago is a small town, at least in its historical center. But the main square is incredibly vast and beautiful, surrounded by incredible buildings that create an aura of aristocracy. Strolling here I can imagine the horse carriages and the ladies with long dresses, like in the past. Probably it was not the case given the position of the town in a mountain area, but the beautiful aspect of Piazza Italia gives me this impression. Deciding what to paint in town I was unsure, and at the end I decided to paint the square including the statue that celebrate the history of the town and its knives manufacturers.
I love the idea on how art can be creative while celebrating something that is of historical importance. I love the idea of something that is created connecting to the culture and the territory. I believe art is a great way to transmit culture and history, and it is such a powerful instrument even it seems that sometimes we forget its importance and power.
About why the statue is made of used blades of all kinds, it was curious to discover that the art of handcrafted cutlery comes from the medieval ages. The manufactures continued through the years and, in the fifteenth century, the skilled Maniaghesi knife makers forged knives and blades, also supplying the troops of the Venetian Serenissima Republic and other European countries. This manufacturing art became so embedded in the town that Maniago became the city of the knife. And to celebrate this culture, since 1998 the Museum of knife art and cutlery was opened to the public.
Title of the painting ‘The statue of blades that celebrates Maniago history’
Those paintings are from the Italia Grand Sketching Tour Collection, a series of original ink and watercolor paintings done on location during my 2019 tour to discovery the Italian heritage. The paintings are also featured in the book about my motorbike Italian tour.Â
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