Lake Como / Lago di Como – Click on wine glass to view larger image or to purchase giclee prints.

PAINTING IN ITALY / LAGO DI COMO

Lake Como (Larius, as it was known to the Romans) has been called “the looking glass of Venus,” and Virgil pronounced it “our greatest lake.” Not to be out quoted, Stendhal characterized Lake Como as “everything noble, everything evoking love.”  With these dazzling recommendations, how can any artist resist this idyllic local?

I recommend not setting up in the town of Como, as it is a busy industrial town.  It’s not that there isn’t a plethora of squares and charming buildings to paint within the town, but if your time is limited you may prefer the smaller, more picturesque villages that line the lake.

     Bellagio, which is labeled the “pearl of Larius,” and has also been called “the prettiest town in Europe,” is the perfect spot to set up for a day.  Be sure to clamp down your canvas as a gust off the lake can kick up unexpectedly.  If your canvas ends up face down in your pallet, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

My personal favorite is Tremezzo, on the west shore of the lake.  Landscape artists will love the luxuriant vegetation that includes citrus trees, palms, cypresses, and magnolias.

The painting above is a mix of reality and what my mind prefers to be real.  The original 16″x20″ acrylic on canvas painting can be purchased at my art website:  http://www.pamelaallegretto-franz.com

Quality giclee prints from greeting card size to poster size are available for purchase at:  http://pamela-allegretto.fineartamerica.com