Scribblings and Doodles at Villa Medici

At the top of the Spanish Steps just left of the Trinita dei Monti Church lies the Villa Medici, now inhabited by the French Academy.

John and I passed by the villa one afternoon and saw this poster for a show of Scribblings and Doodles from Leonardo da Vinci to Cy Twombly and decided to see the exhibit.

We've seen great shows in the past, in this narrow, Renaissance, entry way to the old stables, and this show was a fresh delight. We both love sketches, graffiti and unfinished idea-works. Here are some highlights.

Titian, head and profile,16th century

Pontormo, study of drapery, grotesque head, eyes, etc, around 1519-1521

Rembrandt, self portrait, 17th century

Pierre Alechinsky. Found work, 1979

Pablo Picasso, 20 classic profiles, caricatures and eyes, 1948

(detail) Picasso scribble on envelope

Untitled, Cy Twombly, 1957

Jean Dubuffet, Portrait of Jules Supervielle, 1947

John with Jean Dubuffet, Gazelle, 1948

Luigi Pericle, Untitled, 1965

Pierrette Bloch, Untitled, 2015

Agostino Carracci, Carcatures of heads, around 1594

Jean Fautrier, Pink nude, 1959

Pierre Alechinsky. Found work, 1979

The last room of the exhibition was reserved for graffiti by visitors. Chalk was provided. I added a stick self-portrait of a running figure in fedora and baggy shorts.

As we left the Villa Medici, John caught me passing the tranquil Roman fountain that overlooks the city. The fountain probably came from one of Rome's ancient baths. What a town!