Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Jewels of Rome with Kevin Murray






 Born  in New South Wales, Australia, Kevin Murray has lived  in Rome  for  over  40 years and  considers  the Eternal City his home. 


with the artist in his studio
 Many decades ago  he earned a diploma at the Accademia delle  Belle Arti where he studied  painting (with Gentilini) and etching (with Maccari) as well as   mosaic technique in Ravenna’s Centro Internazionale del Mosaico.

Fountain of the Turtles 
Kevin and I were colleagues  in the 1970s-80s  when he taught  art and history to international students  and survival English to Russian émigrés in Rome. 




He  balanced  his teaching  with his art so well that  former students  often described him  as a Renaissance man for he is comfortable wearing many hats.


St, Peter's dome and the Tiber 
Besides directing excavations in Herculaneum, he held numerous one man shows in Sydney and Adelaide  (1971-1988)  as well as in  prestigious galleries of Rome and Florence like the Valle Giulia gallery, The Crypt  and Bottega di Cimabue.



still life 

a period palazzetto  with a Roman temple at the end of the street



Now comfortably settled in a period  palazzetto  between the temple of Minerva  and the multi cultural neighborhood of Pza. Vittorio, Kevin has carved out a  home and studio  that reflects  his eclectic lifestyle made up of  painting, music  and  cinema. 


Murray's  Roman terrace
You may have seen Kevin playing a cardinal in the recent  Nanni Moretti  film “Habemus Papem” .





What  are the jewels of Rome according to  Kevin Murray?


vicolo  Piazza Navona 

They include the  cupolas of many Roman churches and food enjoyed  during  visit to the  Roman campagna, just as  his predecessors of the Grand Tour .  

view of Roman countryside 

Benediction loggia, San Marco 
His latest  personal exhibit continues  until July  18  at  Studio Minera, Via Pietro Micca 6, Rome. 

An invitation to fellow expats and former students  to stop by and see  the Jewels of Rome.    RSVP to  dellascala4@gmail.com  
      Other paintings   www.artbreak.com/kevin2009

4 comments:

  1. Very interesting paintings, lovely Kevin.

    Cheers,
    Rebecca
    Rome

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  2. Captivating Kevin....well done and this is an interesting and excellently prepared interview. Thanks for the glimpse. All good wishes...jo

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    Replies
    1. Dear Anonymous,
      I am thrilled you like "the glimpse" and thanks for your kind comments. I wish you well. Kevin

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  3. I had Mr. Murry as a teacher at Notre Dame school in the early 1970's. Though he taught history every one in his class knew "ART REFLECTS A SOCIETY!" So he got his way as an ART TEACHER! He turned my life around as a troubled teenager by getting to draw roses and teaching me history thru art. I'm now 60 years old living in New Mexico making fine furniture for the past 36 years as a sole-proprietor of WATERSONG FURNITURE. Thank-you Kevin for being in me life and making a difference! Andrew Monahan

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