Firenze from San Miniato

Title

Firenze from San Miniato

Medium

Watercolour and ink on paper

Description

Watercolur and ink cityscape from Mary Filer's 1956 trip to Firenze, Italy

Year

1956

Theme

Watercolour Techniques

Archives Control Number

(Watercolour), 1956-1

Photo Credit

Jason Cawood

Exhibition

At the Archway

Selected by

Jayden Grad

Exhibition Description

During her trip to Europe starting in 1956 Mary Filer visited Italy while expanding her knowledge of art. Filer's intimate view of Firenze, or Florence, is seen from the small Italian town of San Miniato and shows the striking red roof of the Florence Cathedral. The roof distinctly stands out against the blue sky and mountains in the background. Filer remained in Europe for several years producing art and expanding her craft before moving back to Canada in 1967.

Why This Piece Was Chosen

I was first drawn to Firenze from San Miniato because of the use of ink and watercolor together, something I have not experienced before. I also was drawn to the contrasting blue and red outlines of the Florence cathedral and the blue mountains in the distance behind it. The piece is also interesting due to the imperfections that are present. It seems as though there are places on the piece (like the bottom right corner) that were experimental and did not work out in the way that Filer wanted. This seems clear because she does not continue with the same technique later in the piece, she adopts different techniques that give her the outcome she desires. Her work is constantly experimental and it draws the viewer back again and again.