Most of the images, drawn by me for my book, were based on authentic works, drawings and engravings by the artist, or known graphic works which preserved his work in engravings by other artists. G. de Boulonois’s engraving, which greets me every time I enter and leave the house, finally prompted me to illustrated My Life with Berti Spranger.
Walk with Pieter in the First Chapter
Vienna is enchanting, full of interesting architecture and lovely parks. It still remains the city of my dreams, even though I have visited and lived in many European cities. This photo captures the path Pieter Van de Graeff takes after leaving the Art Museum and meeting Karolina for the first time in front of Arcimboldo’s Flora.
He passes at the street level, from left to right, in front of the Palace of Justice, then cuts through the park in front of the City Hall, the building with tall Gothic Spires. Passing it and crossing a major street, he reaches Floriani Street where he discovers Spranger’s memoir in his grandfather’s friend’s antique shop that is about to close.
Crossing the Alps in the Sixteenth Century
Here’s a road in St. Gotthard’s pass, Switzerland, built in 1827-30. It was a built up “modern highway,” superior to all country roads at the time. I can’t imagine what the roads were like when Berti Spranger, a Flemish artist in my book, traveled across the Alps in 1575. Recently, I traveled on similar narrow roads in Provence. Many of them were built up over the surrounding landscape and the side drop-offs were very scary. The serpentine paths through the French Grand Canyon were definitely not my favorite!
