Interview

• How did you convince him?

  Working at night. I wanted to prove to him that I believed in what I was doing. I worked on the portrait of a boy, one of the most difficult things to do because of the many colours you have to create for the face. The smile on my father’s face when he saw the final product told me I had succeeded.

• What aspect of your work fascinates you the most?

  The research and selection of the stones. My father and I look for them in the woods that surround Florence, walking along the banks of the Arno river to find new colours. In our workshop I spend hours selecting the right shades for the paintings I want to create.

• How is your craft inextricably linked to Florence?

  The Medici family originally asked a group of artisan-artists to produce stone paintings. Since then, this technique has faced changing fortunes, also due to the cost of raw materials and labour. Today, fewer than ten artisans can boast the title of master.

• How do you manage to update such a traditional craft?

  That’s something you can’t do with the technique, which cannot be modified. Although our clients love classical paintings, Florence’s landscapes and views in particular, I try to push myself towards contemporary art and more abstract designs.