Following last months profile of our Program Director Robb Horsley, we are pleased to introduce you to the second of our faculty members…
Name: Frances Middendorf
What do you do? Drawing Instructor at RAP
Where are you based? Rome
What’s your background? I trained at Rhode Island School of Design (BFA) and the School of Visual Arts (MFA) before furthering my practice at The New York Studio School and Academia delle Belle Arte in Perugia, Italy.
Any major shows and/or awards? Most recently I’ve shown at the National Arts Club in New York and Casa Natale Cesare Pavese in Piedmonte, Italy. My next exhibit will be at the Downing Yudain Gallery from January 22nd, followed by one at Two Palladian villas in the Veneto in the spring.
When in Rome… My favorite thing to do is to visit the Casino Ludovisi to see a Caravaggio ceiling in the place where he painted it and also to The church of San Clemente to see the many layers of excavation from the early Mithraic temple below to the Romanesque church above with the frescoes by Masolino and Masaccio.
For pleasure, I like to go down below the bridges to the banks of the Tiber – William Kentridge will have his graffiti drawings made by cleaning around the mold of the banks on display starting April 21st.
What’s your favourite painting or drawing location? The Tiber
Tell us a Secret About Rome: The theatre where Mozart played at the Altemps Museum
Where is the best spot to relax? Villa Doria Pamphili
What do you always have in your bag when going around the city: A sketchbook
- Michelangelo’s Pieta or Canova’s Pauline Bonepart? Michelangelo’s Pieta
- Caravaggio’s Calling of ST Matthew or Raphael’s Transfiguration? Caravaggio’s Calling of Saint Matthew
- Fellini’s La Dolce Vita or Wyler’s Roman Holiday? Fellini’s La Dolce Vita
To paraphrase Monty Python (see below) – What have the Roman’s ever done for us? Told fortunes with bird flights
Thanks to Frances for sharing her Rome with us, more from the faculty in weeks to come.
You can find out more about Frances and see examples of her work on her website
Quote from… Monty Python’s Life Of Brian
Reg: All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?
PFJ Member: Brought peace?
Reg: Oh, peace? SHUT UP!