The heart, an enclosed garden and a funerary box, tenderly contain within them what is precious and loved. A heart becomes a reliquary if a ceased affection is still held dear, as tells the Breton lai Laüstic by Marie de France.
The augellin, a little songbird from Italian traditional songs and from the 16th century poem Quell’augellin che canta by Giovanni Battista Guarini, has taken on the male character in my paintings, he is the beloved. An image from the 14th century Tuscan poem Carmina Regia inspired the female character. Medieval Italian manuscripts and herbals influenced my manner of painting. for its clinging quality The ivy leaf signifies fidelity of attachment.
Patterns are as free as birds. They journey with their beauty and take nest where they choose. The little bird brings the pattern of its song to the heavenly garden, the garden of affection and our earthly garden. I wish my works to be as if from a song of the fragile augellin.
TUNE OF HER AFFECTION
Natural pigments with egg tempera, inks, graphite and 24ct shell gold on stained watercolour paper 67x48cm
CUORE DI QUESTO CUORE (HEART OF THIS HEART)
Natural pigments with egg tempera, inks and 24ct shell gold on stained watercolour paper 44x50cm (Sold)
VIAGGIO IN ITALIA (JOURNEY TO ITALY)
Natural pigments with egg tempera, inks, graphite and 24ct shell gold on stained watercolour paper 59x52cm (Sold)
Quell’augellin che canta(This little bird which sings)
Egg Tempera with natural pigments, ink and Italian shell platinum on stained watercolour paper 49x48cm £1,200
Birdbath with Ivy
natural pigments with egg tempera, ink, graphite and 24ct shell gold on plant stained watercolour paper 8x8CM
TUNE OF HER AFFECTION
