Instagram story viewer> @tominflorence> Posts

Tom Richards

@tominflorence

41.3K

followers

2768

following

Painter; Director @florenceacademyofart Things I see and make

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

📷 Taken by a visitor to the studio a few weeks ago. Had the Pavarotti/Sutherland La Traviata on in the background (croce e delizia…) so open some linseed oil if you are one of those people looking for a fully immersive ‘experience’. #studiolife taken in Firenze by @tominflorence

8k

129

a year ago

Back in the studio. It might be partly (massively?!) an admission of my own limitations but for the type of work I do… I need a large room with (consistent) light coming in from a decent height. Being on the road and working in London and Venice is great but I’m always happy to be back here. #artistsstudio by @tominflorence

3k

60

5 years ago

I’m extremely careful about sourcing my painting materials and I always enjoy meeting and learning from people with a similar passion who work in other fields- in this case people who have been making wool that drapes perfectly for 250+ years… @al.photographers took some great shots in my studio as part of a collaboration with @douglas_cordeaux and @themerchantfox #loveyourwork taken in Florence, Italy by @tominflorence

4k

97

4 years ago

Beyond the studio these last few weeks @giacomettiomp @biennalefirenze sitter unknown, by Vincenzo Marinelli

@flavio_gianassi @biennalefirenze (exquisite) detail from Sofinsiba by Ficherelli

@biennalefirenze Carlo Orsi’s stand. Detail of a Mengs portrait

@botticelliantichita @biennalefirenze St Jerome (terracotta)

@walterpadovani @biennalefirenze Bartolini

@goldfinch_finearts @biennalefirenze Perin del Vaga cartoon fragment

@biennalefirenze Telemaco Signorini

Superior ‘above the photocopier art’

In the studio of @martin.foot.sculptor visiting the @florenceacademyofart marble carving course

Vermeer at @barberinicorsini

Last swim of the season

Building a home.

Canova @pinacotecaambrosiana

Studying Raphael with @ramirosanchez_art

Dr Vanni by @tominflorence

643

11

14 days ago

Memories of a very busy Ferragosto in 2023- finishing and installing an altarpiece for the St Catherine (of Siena) Chapel at the @acffiorentina training ground. Rocco’s wife Catherine was immensely supportive throughout the project. #santacaterina

Varnish day in the studio

Taken by Paolo before we put the painting in the frame and made the delivery.

Livio and his beautiful hand-carved frame, complete with a Florentine giglio at the base.

Gilding and patination by @leone.cornici

Detail

Site visit a few months before.

Site visit with @dallofrancesco @audax.ca and his son.

Final touches to the interior before the consecration.

Installation complete.

A few images of the consecration ceremony by Cardinal Bettori. A great privilege to be a small part of what came from Rocco’s vision and energy, with the help and expertise of many others- Joe first among them. taken in Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park by @tominflorence

980

41

2 months ago

🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 (catching me up in dog years).

Princely delusions part one.

Supermodel

Cat baiting

👑

Lizard hunter

With his mum.

#dog #mutt #crossbreedsofinstagram #notaspaniel #tontolino taken in Florence, Italy by @tominflorence

651

19

2 months ago

Making my own house warming present. As I could not imagine a scenario where I could ever afford a Ruisdael (and I don’t know anyone who would/could give me one!) making a copy seemed the best option. The original is in Madrid @museothyssen and has long been a favourite of mine. It’s a view of Haarlem in Holland, where Ruisdael lived. He exploited all the possible drama in the flat-ish landscape by finding/creating a slightly raised viewpoint and designing a fleeting flash of light on the middle ground. Lots of dark green/browns (more brown than green!), Naples yellow and lead tin yellow (thanks to an old stash from @l.cornelissen_and_son ). Trying to honour Fromentin’s perceptive analysis of the artist’s qualities and wishing I hadn’t chosen to work on such a tiny panel, the original is about twice the size and my small sables are getting a real workout. Imitating Dutch frame by @leone.cornici in case you were wondering. #noferiequestanno taken in Florence, Italy by @tominflorence

1k

52

2 months ago

Despite knowing quite well how wonderful it is… always a soul shaking thing to visit @museofirenze The Michelangelo, carved for his own tomb, undoubtedly a star attraction but so much more.

The space between Donatello’s Magdalene and the Michelangelo must be one of the most charged in any museum.

The (powerful) echo of a refined classical sensibility vibrates beneath the pathos.

Not unlike what we find in this famous picture by Giorgione (painted around 60 years later).

Andrea Pisano’s baptism panel on the South Doors.

Ghiberti adding an extra layer of compositional fluidity and a greater ability to incorporate naturalistic detail into the same subject.

Pisano’s depiction of the ‘birth of Eve’ from the campanile.

Donatello’s extraordinary depiction of the same subject. Eve grips God as a baby holds onto a parent.

A detail- the fragility and vulnerability of the facial expression and body language.

Donatello as ‘portraitist’. A marvel in the way he harmonises the classical, medieval and renaissance impulses along with direct observation.

Donatello’s Cantoria. A pagan inspired disco ball meets flick-book for the Duomo.

The central part of the silver altar for the Baptistery. Pretty much every significant sculptor of the time had a bit of a go at this.

Byzantine micro mosaic. The tessile are only a couple of mm in dimension. 🤯

Detail…

Annibale Caracci as fashion designer.

A pair of Ghiberti dogs from the Gates of Paradise.

One of the expressive animals from the back of the North Doors (another reason I prefer them to their more famous neighbours).

Daedalus by Andrea Pisano.

Finally- an old favourite, equestrian relief by Andrea Pisano. So much joy, so much movement, so much elegance. What a museum! taken in Museo dell'Opera del Duomo by @tominflorence

379

14

2 months ago

An all too rare chance to paint a still-life. Would normally start with lots of charcoal studies but this beautiful and ancient frame (swipe for details) is such an unusual and subtly asymmetrical shape that I need to work a few things out on the panel first- most importantly where the table edge should hit the frame. Starting to see why Chardin and co stuck to more straightforward shapes… #stilllife taken in Firenze by @tominflorence

1k

10

4 months ago

In honour of the Maltese cross… 8 highlights from a wonderful few days celebrating the birthday of @martinamondadori and the opening of the beautiful @casabonavita hotel. Pictures by Caravaggio, Mattia Preti, various C19 Maltese painters and the final sculpture by Antonio Sciortino. 🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹 #malta taken in Valletta, Malta by @tominflorence

582

17

5 months ago

Photos taken by a recent visitor to the studio. @outof.mycage taken in Firenze by @tominflorence

787

14

5 months ago

48hrs in Rome. Hapsburg Treasure at Palazzo Cipolla. Bernini at Palazzo Barberini. Palazzo Colonna. Then back to work. #caputmundi taken in Roma, Italia by @tominflorence

563

8

6 months ago