2008

DURING AN EXTENSIVE RENOVATION, REMNANTS OF A SEVENTEENTH CENTURY CEILING PAINTING OF BIRDS WAS FOUND. AS BIRDS WERE PAINTED ON CEILINGS ONLY BETWEEN THE YEARS 1660-1680,THIS WAS A RARE FIND. I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE 90% THAT WAS MISSING BY CONTINUING THE SKY AND ADDING ASSORTED FLYING BIRDS. THE BEAMS, PAINTED IN A NEUTRAL GRAY, COMPLEMENT BOTH "OLD" CEILING AND THE MODERN INTERIOR.

UNDER THE CEILING PAINTING OF BIRDS STANDS AN IMPOSING DINING TABLE. THREE VERY LARGE OIL PAINTINGS OF MY DESIGN CONTINUE THE IDEA OF SPACE AND FLIGHT. THE CENTRE PAINTING DEPICTS A DUTCH COUPLE IN 17TH CENTURY DRESS GAZING INTO THE DISTANCE OVER THE ITALIAN HILLS: THE ACTUAL VIEW FROM THE OWNERS' VILLA IN ITALY. ON THE OPPOSITE WALL HANG THE TWO COMPLIMENTARY PAINTINGS GIVING DINNER GUESTS THE FEELING OF DINING IN A GARDEN WITH A VIEW. BIRDS CONTINUE THE ESTABLISHED THEME WHILE LEOPARDS REFER TO THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA AND TO BACCHUS. A PEACOCK REPRESENTS THE UNIVERSE.

IN THE "ACHTERHUIS", WERE ALSO DISCOVEREDBIRD CEILING PAINTINGS. THE HALF THAT REMAINED THAT WERE HEAVILY WATER DAMAGED, WERE RESTORED AND IN REMAINING EMPTY SPACES I PAINTED AGAIN, ASSORTED BIRDS OF VARIOUS SPECIES.