Over the Garden Wall


Colored Etching of Salesianerkirche, Vienna, by Luigi Kasimir (LEO Design)

Sadly, this year's travel plans have been supplanted with overdue home projects, including the hanging and cataloging of my personal collection of paintings and other artwork.  So this summer, in lieu of an overseas getaway, I could only gaze wistfully at framed pictures as I hung them—many of them reminding me of my favorite travel destinations (and vacations gone by).  Let me share a few of them with you.  Alas, this shall be the extent of my romantic journeys for Summer 2020.  On the whole, I have little to complain of.  In the meantime, I'll enjoy a few more "little journeys,' gazing at my pictures of my favorite places.

The Salesian “Church and Convent of the Visitation” in Vienna was built between 1717 and 1719 and is adjacent to the lower garden wall of Schloss Belvedere (the castle which now houses the world's greatest collection of Austrian art). From the elevated steps of the museum, at the top of the garden, one can see the church's green dome.  Construction costs for the church were paid by Empress Wilhemine Amalia, the widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph I.  She wanted a place to spend her final years and, in fact, is buried there.  It was also to be a school for aristocratic girls, run by the Salesian Order of Nuns.

Slovakian artist Luigi Kasimir grew up in a family of artists. He created oil paintings and landscapes, however he is best known for his etchings of architectural wonders and monuments throughout Europe and even in the United States.

Kasimir developed a multi-plate colored etching process which became the technology of modern color printing ever since.  Up to six etched copper plates were used for each print—with hand-applied color painted upon each plate.  The previous method of colorizing prints was to print them in black and then hand-tint them with watercolor (an unreliable process, highly dependent on the skill and finesse of the colorist).

 

Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well!  Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com)

We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).

Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only).  917-446-4248