Barn near Tolomei
The local red earth gives the lime plaster of this building a soft glow.
We used to rent two or three apartments on the Tolomei estate, set in holm oak forests on the hills of the Montagnola. One day I had been dispatched to illustrate the estate but wasn't feeling inspired, but I saw this beautiful little old barn near the entrance and had a wonderful time sketching it. It seems to encapsulate everything I love about Tuscan summers, particularly in the area around Siena.
The earth has the typical red tone known as "Terra di Siena". The simple stone buildings are plastered with lime render which deals with light differently to modern plaster, glowing with a soft light. Dust raised by the little traffic that comes by on the gravel road lays lightly over everything, further softening the tones. glorious.
Montagnola close to Siena
Available Prints
A3 Portrait - £59
Original image size: 410 x 290 mm
Notes: Pencil and watercolour wash on Indian Khadi Paper
Prints are made with archival inks on one of two papers - either 350g Hahnemuhle German Etching paper, or 290g. Hahnemuhle Hemp, a beautifully heavy paper with rich colours. Made with 60% hemp fiber, this is an eco-friendly paper. Hemp is a highly sustainable resource, historically used for papermaking. Hahnemuhle use spring water for milling, and the production of hemp paper does not require bleaching or chloride, making the process less impactful. Postage and packing will be calculated on checkout.
Guide to Print sizes
| ISO | Size in Inches | Size in cms |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 11.69 × 8.27 | 29.7 × 21 |
| A3 | 16.54 × 11.69 | 42 × 29.7 |
| A2 | 23.39 × 16.54 | 59.4 × 42 |
| na | 10 × 10 | 25.4 × 25.4 |
| na | 7.87 × 7.87 | 20 × 20 |
Framing and mounts
An A4 print is best framed in an A3 frame - these images work best with a decent amount of white space surrounding them.
