Portrait of the Artist in 14 Photos -- #7

circa 1960

Richard Blow in his workshop at Villa Piazza Calda. Richard is at the top of his art game – inspired, inventive, successful, famous. He’s cheated death, surviving a bloody car accident and a scary bout of amnesia. Finally recovered and back in sunny Santa Margherita a Montici, Richard sits at his workshop desk, sports jacket and striped tie, silk handkerchief tucked into the breast pocket, sketching and designing a surreal pair of birds. Post-War Italy is booming. American tourists are flocking to Rome and Florence, enticed by Hollywood hit films like Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck joy-riding the city on an irresistibly cute Vespa scooter. Italy is sophisticated, sassy, affordable. Just like Montici mosaics.