Renaissance Art Tours & Painting Classes for adults by artist Rebecca Last

I have been leading groups in Florence since 1999 and taken college art students to earn credits painting and drawing in Florence and elsewhere in Italy. This week long art & architectural tour is designed for adults to share a relaxing yet meaning filled week in one of the western world's most important centres for visual history. I offer a second week of painting classes out and about in Florence and its Tuscan environs. We walk most places and my art history talks and the knowledge I share of contemporary and Renaissance Florence, as well as the painting classes can be appreciated by those with no experience as well as those with more.

Florence, 2003

"I think what made this great was the small group of enthusiastic people & most of all your true interest in all the art & history. Your emotional connection with the subject matter came across as you spoke & gave us all an opportunity to look deeper at each piece. It was not a "tour" - it was an experience. To label what you gave us a tour would be to say that Cellini gave us - statues. Mr. Chris Clyde

"Very reasonably priced. It was almost a private art tour and a wonderful introduction to the world of the Renaissance art and the Medici. I had no idea that Renaissance art was so political. One of the things that was great was going to Fiesole which was off the beaten track and I imagine most people don't get to see. There were no tourists! " Chris McLain

There is a tremendous amount of pleasure to be had exploring the birth place of the Italian Renaissance, whether it's understanding Florence's medieval city plan, or just imaging the creating of art in Florence during the Renaissance. For eight days you will be surrounded and inspired by the work's of the early Renaissance architects Alberti and Brunelleschi, the city's inavative sculptors Donatello, Michelangelo, and Cellini and, of course, the range of exceptional painters who worked in Florence including Fra Angelico, Massacio, Leonardo, Bronzino, del Sarto, Botticelli, and Vasari, history's first art historian.

For something different we explore the markets and visit the Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, one of Europe's oldest pharmacies which is still producing its exclusive perfumes and medieval medicinal recipes.

WHY ARE THEY CONSIDERED MASTERPIECES? Florence is a magical place and small enough for us to walk everywhere to look and discuss the meaning and significance of Renaissance paintings, sculpture and architecture. We take the opportunity to look at the work "in situ" , to discuss the ideas around the making of art as well as the artists and patrons.

"There is no other place in the world where one can live in such close symbiosis with art as in Florence. At times it feels more like an open air museum of the Renaissance than a city."

"It's been a wonderful week, ...The thing I enjoyed most was learning. Developing a knowledge of Florentine history thru the art & architecture became a rich tapestry of individual threads that are (still) slowly coming together. ... And of course, the vino & grappa! " P.M., Toronto

daily semi-private Renaissance art & architecture walks & an optional second week studio and plein air painting

Most days consist of a morning and early evening art walks with a long afternoon siesta for soaking in the surroundings, and relaxation. Evenings are spent as one wishes, with the option of joining in a shared meal in a piazza or wandering off on one's own to take in the inspiring surroundings.