Your tour guide in Rome

Have you ever been to Palazzo Spada in Rome? The illusionary depth of the famous Borromini's perspective is approximately 35 meters. In reality the distance from the entrance to the statue is only 8,82 metres. The statue is 60 cm high :)

«St. Mary Magdalene» by Piero di Cosimo.
National Gallery of Ancient Art. Palazzo Barberini

This is one of those paintings you can't stop looking at . It is difficult to explain what makes it so special. Its composition is simple with very few details, the colours are not rich and bright, but there is some chromatic balance and harmony, that makes you stop in silence in front of it. It doesn't look like religious painting and only the word «portrait» comes to your mind. Portrait of a beautiful stranger with a noble posture, graceful neck, lush hair, twisted with string of pearls, and perfect, pure, but at the same time completely earthly thoughtful and calm face. It seems that you have already met this woman somewhere, may be she has recently slipped in front of you in some busy street or lived nearby, but you don't remember her name... Only by the barely perceptible gleam of the halo, a vase of incense, a scarlet cloak and an open book we recognize in the lovely young woman St. Mary Magdalene.

Early morning in Rome