Italian Inspiration

Sixth Form Art and Textiles students embarked on a fantastic trip to Venice over half-term. The group had the opportunity to visit some really impressive Venetian buildings housing some remarkable art work.

The first full day saw the girls cruising down the Grand Canal and under the famous Rialto Bridge to the beautiful St. Mark’s Square where they embarked on a personalised tour of the city. This was a great opportunity for the group to learn about the history of Venice from its status as a trading post to how in Roman times local people escaped to the lagoons for refuge. 

  During the tour the girls visited the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), walked over the Ponte dei Sospiri (the Bridge of Sighs) and ended up at Saint Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) which was an amazing sight to see with all its decoration and mosaics. 

  Other highlights from the trip included: 

• A visit to the amazing Peggy Guggenheim Gallery where they saw the American art collector’s display of 20th-Century modern art. The collection which is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal also had examples of works by artist such as Magritte, Picasso, Pollock, Chagall and Dali. 
• A chance to explore the Gallery Accademia, the city’s most important and prestigious art gallery. Featuring an impressive collection of 14th to 18th Century Venetian paintings and sculptures including Bellini, Titian, Mantegna, Bosch, Canaletto, Tintoretto, Veronese and Canova. 
• A visit, via the vaporetto, to Murano Island, famous for glass making. The girls went to Fornace Ferro Murano glass factory where they listened to a short talk and watched an impressive glass blowing demonstration. 
• A chance to visit the brightly coloured island of Burano, famous for homes painted in every colour of the rainbow. 
• A morning spent at the Modern Art Gallery on the Grand Canal where they saw inspiring artwork by artists including Jim Dine, Anselm Kiefer, Rodin, Dongi, Chigall and Klimt. This gave the girls plenty to draw, admire and marvel at the different styles of paintings and sculptures. 

The Textiles students also enjoyed seeing a special exhibition about the Italian fashion designer Fiorucci. The girls were very impressed by the impact Fiorucci and his creative team have had on the development of fashion. 

Head of Art, Mr Webber, said “We all thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to visit such an interesting and vibrant part of Italy. Our various excursions really allowed the girls to appreciate the rich culture that Venice has to offer and I’m sure that their experiences will have a huge impact on the work they are now able to produce for their courses.”