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"Ponte Vecchio 2010"

Canvas size: 36 inches by 24 inches

The current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345. During World War II it was the only bridge across the Arno that the fleeing Germans did not destroy. Instead they blocked access by demolishing the medieval buildings on each side. On November 4, 1966, the bridge miraculously withstood the tremendous weight of water and silt when the Arno once again burst its banks.

When the Medici moved from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, they decided they needed a connecting route from the Uffizi to the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the Arno that would enable them to keep out of contact with the people they ruled. The result was the Corridoio Vasariano, built in 1565 by Vasari and which runs above the little goldsmiths' shops on the Ponte Vecchio

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I have wonderful memories of this bridge including a great nighttime concert.

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Above - I started with three photos from my trip to Florence. I liked parts of each.

Below - I sketched a composite and turned it into a line drawing on the computer.

Above - The parts I liked from the photos are composed.

Below - The first sketch was just to block in the parts and rough colors.

Above - I know the final color of the balcony won't be gray, but it's a start.

Below - The second layer of paint better establishes the details before I get painterly.

Above - It's still just a sketch. Eventually, the painting will contain stacks of colors - one on top of another.

Below - The colors are more firmly established, and the clouds are more defined.

Above - The lower half of the painting is still not defined.

Below - The river was added, and the clouds were simplified.

Above -  The lower half of the picture is now more subdued in the final painting.

Below - This is a detail of the painting to show the textures.

Above -  The layers of paint can be better seen.

Below - Close-up of the upper left portion of the painting

Below - Camera zoom to show water close-up