San Fedele Monastery in Tuscany

We spent one day at the Tuscan Renaissance Center painting the view of the front of the stately San Fedele church, a Romanesque structure that dates from around 1200. Our painting classroom was just inside the arched doorway of the church--what an inspiring place for learning! One of my favorite things about being in Tuscany is the presence of history everywhere. The generations of priests who lived in this monastery for centuries served the local community, performing baptisms, weddings and funerals, saying mass, but also preparing manuscripts for local noble families. It was a great honor to paint in the same physical environment in which they had produced their codici miniati. Here is a photo of the view of San Fedele from across the vineyard and atop a hill. It reveals the tranquil and wooded setting of the monastery, and I intend to paint this view, as it sums up what is truly special about the place for me.