Proposed Project: all that pink is contagious
I’ve had this 1560s Venetian project planned for a long time but hadn’t really gotten bitten by the bug to make another Renaissance gown for a while. But now I’m bitten again.
After finishing my Florentine gown I had some alterations in mind to make it look more like some other 1560s portraits which had a different shoulder angle than I achieved. However, now I look at *this* portrait and realize my current shoulder strap pattern matches the angle on this one exactly! So, I have a recently fit pattern to start from. That is always an auspicious sign for a project don’t you think?
Wow, another Italian gown! This one is planned to be completed in 2010 due to other obligations but I can start more of the research and planning now.
I even have the rose fabric I plan to use already in my stash.
Even though the portrait is local to me I’ve been told it is currently in storage. Hmm…. I wonder what MORE I need to know about getting appointments to view things at museums because I didn’t success the first time around. Any tips are welcome of course but I have researched and read up on advice for making appointment for study visits. Do I need to get my butt back in school so I have some credentials? Luckily they told me I can find zoomable images online from the museum but we all know how “online” isn’t the same as viewing in person. So I’ll have to work with the images I can screen capture off their site.
Currently I’m collecting lace samples and planning the cuffs and camicia red-worked edge. I’m tempted to do it by hand this time around instead of machine like my blackworked chemise.
Bummer that the museum won’t let you view the painting in person. However, I do understand why.
Museum staff are hideously overworked and underpaid, particularly in America. Many museums have storage rooms that are extremely crowded and hard to access. In order to allow a visitor the view a painting two, three or more people may have to devote more than a day to moving other works to access the one you want to see and transporting it to a viewing space. And all of this takes away time from their other work: caring for artwork, conserving artwork, preparing exhibitions, doing research (which eventually helps people like us), lending to other museums etc. etc. etc.
So, even though most of them don’t want to, museums end up being forced to make judgement calls about where they can devote resources. And students and historical costumers don’t always make the cut (especially if it is up to an old-fashioned ‘only paintings and sculptures are art’ type curator). Which sucks. But is understandable.
LOL sorry about the grandstanding – can you tell I work for a museum?!?