A Fruitful Trip to Napoli

Our heartfelt thanks to Maria Grazia Leonetti di Rondino, Governatore, Il Pio Monte della Misericordia, for her warm hospitality and enthusiasm for the great Baroque master Francesco de Mura. And gratitude to the Ringling Museum for sponsoring this research trip. You see here Sorrento, where Arthur stayed with Maria Grazia at her vacation home. And thanks to brilliant Loredana Gazzari and her Mom and Dad, for taking Arthur under their wings on this busy trip. It was a delight to spend time with the distinguished Nicola Spinosa, head of all Neapolitan museums, and see his energy and excitement about curating a first-ever Francesco de Mura exhibition in Naples. We also thank the priests, curators, and volunteers in the churches and museums who searched out De Mura's works. Naples is a fascinating city, jammed with magnificent art, colorful people, lots of noisy, friendly chaos and delicious food. In its Golden Age, the 1800s, our artist De Mura created his masterpieces. Naples was then the heart of European culture.