MAPPLETHORPE IN ROME

Grand tour. Grand tour shopping. Why don’t you take a break from shopping tours and go to visit an exhibition ? Especially one of the greatest photographer of all times. Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989). Can you figure modern black and white pictures in an old roman Palazzo ? This is the key of this new Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition in Galleria Corsini, via della Lungara 10. You will be able to visit it up to June 30th. The title is “The Sensitive Lens”. It displays 45 works of still lifes, landscapes, classical sculptures, men nudes and Renaissance Composition.

The curator is Flaminia Gennari and She mentioned that the american photograher was a collector of historical photos. She explains: “ On many occasions his photos have been compared to works of artists such as Michelangelo, Auguste Rodin, Hendrick Goltzius”. He never visited Galleria Corsini but he would have love it. The rooms are still arranged according to the taste of Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini ( 1685-1770). In the 18th Century, paintings were on the walls, according to criteria of symmetry and variety of composition which encouraged visitors to identify similarities and differences among the works. These are the same principles that guided Mapplethorpes’s lens in his career. Visitors are invited to explore Galleria Corsini as if they were Connoisseurs.

2019 is the 30th anniversary of Robert Mapplethorpe death and it is part of a series of exhibitions in collaboration with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. They will be a retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and one at the Museo Madre in Naples. A suggestion of shopping? Buy the book by Patti Smith “Just Kids” and you will learn a lot about Robert Mapplethorpe.

HERMES AT WORK IN ROME

In Rome, up to the 16th of March, it is possible to watch artisans and craftspeople of Hermès in the Museo dell’Ara Pacis, Lungotevere in Augusta. It is part of the itinerant festival called “Hermès at Work” created in 2011. Artisans representing ten of the Parisian house’s métiers will meet the public ( also clients from www.grantourshopping.com because we will send them right away). They will share their expertise and passion.

In ten dedicated display areas, visitors will be able to discover the talented hands which transform material into bags, saddles, silk carves ( in the picture below a couple of printers on silk), ties, gloves and much more. The artisans demonstrate and explain their work, answer questions from the public , and discuss the exceptional techniques that are the hallmark of every Hermès métier. A film will provide an immersive experience for visitors to learn about the master glass-makers and cutters of the Saint Louis crystal works, founded in 1586 and acquired by Hermès in 1989.

A celebration of the craftsmanship, these experiences will give visitors a new sense of the meaning behind the term “artisan” and an understanding of the associated techniques. Thoughout the event, round tables and conferences will allow to delve deeper into the themes of craftsmanship, innovation and the transmission of know-how. Don’t miss it

Shopping in Rome for curvy women and tall men

Shopping in Rome in the area of Via del Corso for curvy women and big men. Finding the right clothes for big and tall sizes can be a challenge. We will have to go on a shopping tour in about ten days with a couple XL. He is two meters tall and She is curvy too but I don’t know exactly her size. I will figure it out when I will see her.

.In order not to improvise I made already some research and today I went scouting. I think I find the right places. For him we will go to Pitran , a fantastic store that I just discovered. It is in via del Gambero. They have a wide variety of pants, suits, belts. A lot of italian brands for classical and sportswear. For shoes we will try Fratelli Rossetti and also Cenci.

For her it is a little easier because in Italy we have different brands for curvy ladies. For example Marina Rinaldi. The new spring summer campaign has Ashley Graham who looks gorgeous as you can see in the picture below. In the boutique, in via Borgognona a wide variety of cabans, dresses and black pants that might be good for my client. There is also a new capsule collection designed by Fausto Puglisi, a good italian designer who used to work also for Ungaro. Another good address is Elena Mirò in via Frattina where I saw the new collection particularly cool .