Intuitive Italy: Saints and Angels: Correction!

 I stand corrected:  lapsed Catholic Franc Palaia has pointed out that the lady above is holding a crucifix rather than a stick and that it is a Madonna.  I will have to relabel my file: I have always called her the lady with the stick...And he says cherubs are not angels, they're cherubs. period. (He said you can tell because they have pouches for their arrows.  I have been lumping anything in wings that's not an insect or a bird as an angel.)


This photo was taken in a small local church in Umbria.  As a lapsed Protestant, I'm not up on all the saints, but she drops a broad hint by holding her means of martyrdom -- some sort of stick.    I was drawn by the subject matter and the perfect light hitting the figure, making that fantastic shadow.

The angels here were on a side of a building -- just an example of municipal decor.  I don't know how long they've been there, but the patina is lovely.  My friend, Rita Pignato, a wonderful photographer, came to this small Umbrian town a few years after I did and photographed them as well, at a slightly different angle.

I'm looking forward to adding to my saints/angels/Madonna portfolio this summer, during our Intuitive Italy Workshop -- for painters and photographers.  Linda Richichi, a renowned painter and workshop leader, will be co-leading the workshop with me.  As many painters work from photographs, we believe that they would benefit from photos that better capture the composition and values that have drawn them to the scene.  We also have noticed that painters are often married to photographers, so this workshop will keep both members nicely occupied.  If you are interested in the workshop -- June 30 - July 7 - please feel free to contact me.