MODERN MEDIEVAL Portraits

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime workshop experience with Elizabeth as she guides you in creating a modern, medieval portrait. You’ll take inspiration from incredible medieval frescoes in local churches, combined with the distinct and elegant figures of Tuscan-born artist, Modigliani, as Elizabeth teaches you her exclusive collage techniques. From photographing frescoes and painting papers to gel printing and applying stencils and collage, your unique, modern medieval will emerge.

All levels are welcome on this one-of-a-kind workshop!

OFFERED ONLY IN Tuscany…

Elizabeth’s Modern Medieval Portraits workshop is an all-inclusive experience of fellowship, camaraderie and fun beyond your wildest dreams, that is offered only in Tuscany. You’ll stay in a boutique hotel at the edge of an unspoiled medieval village, and enjoy carefully crafted, daily lessons with Elizabeth. Plus you’ll be immersed in the local cultural, take part in delightful cultural experiences and enjoy exceptional meals.

You’ll enjoy an exclusive visit to the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Città della Pieve, where you’ll have a chance to photograph medieval frescoes up close as inspiration for your unique art project. Blending the sacred symbolism of medieval portraiture with the elongated elegance of Modigliani’s style, the project will unfold as an exploration of mixed-media.

Working over a layered ephemera background, you will learn to sketch stylized faces, incorporating halo iconography with gold leaf for a luminous touch. Next you’ll add richly patterned underpainted clothing, enhance textures with gel-printed papers, and use stenciling and collage to embellish the surface. The final composition will bring together history, portraiture, and personal interpretation.

WHY THE LONG FACE? Modigliani and Medieval Portraiture

Amedeo Modigliani (July 12, 1884 – January 24, 1920) a native of Tuscany, is best known for his unmistakable portraits—elegant, elongated figures with almond eyes and swan-like necks that feel both deeply modern and timeless. But beneath their modernist surface lies an intriguing echo of the past, specifically the quiet dignity and stylized simplicity of medieval portraiture.

Medieval art emphasized symbolism over realism. Figures were often flattened, faces idealized, and gestures restrained, as if to elevate the subject from the earthly to the eternal. Centuries later, Modigliani revived that same visual language, but with a modern twist. He pared down form, streamlined features, and imbued his subjects with an introspective stillness reminiscent of medieval icons.

His portraits have the same frontal, almost sacred presence as those seen in altar panels. The absence of strong shadow, the use of muted backgrounds, are features that harken back to religious paintings of the 13th and 14th centuries. Even his color palette—dusty reds, deep blues, golds—recalls the pigments of medieval frescoes.

Medieval portraits weren’t about capturing a person—they were about capturing a presence. Instead of facial features, identity was often conveyed through clothing, objects, gestures, and inscriptions. It’s fascinating to note how Modigliani revived some of these same elements—elongated bodies, stylized poses, symbolic stillness—but redirected them toward modern psychological exploration.

It’s Modigliani’s artwork, along with medieval frescoes, that form the inspiration for this exciting workshop.

LEARN How To…

• Take inspiration from Tuscan artist Amedeo Modigliani’s 20th Century portraits
• Put a modern twist on medieval portraits inspired by local church frescoes
• Create a compelling composition
• Go from thumbnail sketches to a detailed drawing
• Create a base layer with Italian ephemera
• Add shading and line quality with black pastel
• Paint accent elements with vibrant color
• Create your own collage papers using the gel plate
• Rip and glue and apply collage papers in a painterly manner
• Tear papers with and without white edges
• Adhere your pieces perfectly flat
• Vary your paper brush marks in size and shape like painting with paper
• Incorporate mark making
• Apply metallic accents to halos and crowns
• Incorporate stencil patterning

TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrival

• Highlights: Arrival, village walking tour, introduction with Elizabeth
• Dinner

Upon your arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, our private drivers will transport you to the Italian countryside, and your boutique hotel accommodations in the unspoiled village of Città della Pieve. After check in, it’s off to the studio with Elizabeth for workshop overview filled with inspiration! Afterwards you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the historic center of the village with trip facilitator, Pamela Haack, followed by a delectable welcome dinner prepared by Chef Jordy. 

DAY 2: Santa Maria degli Angeli

• Highlights: Medieval church art
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This morning after a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you’ll join Elizabeth for a fascinating visit inside local churches where you’ll view medieval frescoes and learn about the process of painting frescoes, including the most common colors and how they were obtained. Then it’s off to the studio as you begin your project using ephemera and Italian book pages, and learn about how you might use Modigliani images to influence your work. Lunch today will be served up at our friends’ inviting cafe.

This afternoon you’ll continue in the studio with Elizabeth, followed by a jaunt to a local church that is brimming with history, inspiration and a unique collection of frescoes. Here you’ll have the opportunity to view the frescoes up close and notice the styles, patterns and distinct medieval portraiture. Afterwards our friends who help to preserve this precious historic church will prepare a rustic barbecue served up picnic style.

DAY 3: Orvieto

• Highlights: Marbled paper lesson
• Breakfast, dinner

This morning after breakfast our private drivers will transport us to the town of Orvieto, perched on a dramatic outcropping that overlooks the Val d’Chiana. Here you’ll have a change to view the magnificent duomo before we meet up with our friend, Lamberto, a local paper expert, in his fabulous workshop. Here you’ll learn about the marble paper technique, and then design your own paper that you’ll take back with you to perhaps incorporate in your project. Afterwards you’ll have some time to shop, explore and enjoy lunch on your own before we head back to Città della Pieve.

In the afternoon you’ll join Elizabeth in the studio where, with Elizabeth’s expert guidance, you’ll begin sketching your modern medieval portrait. This evening you’ll enjoy a super fun “food tour” as you sample local specialties in several locations.

DAY 4: Gnocchi Class

• Highlights: Gnocchi-making lesson
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This morning after breakfast you’ll head to the studio for a full morning to work on your project, including gel printing and painting your own papers. Today lunch will be served up at a local cafe.

This afternoon you’ll continue working on your project before we walk to our friend, Cristian’s, bistrot for a delightful, hands-on gnocchi lesson which includes a bit of food history, a tour of Cristian’s wine cantina and loads of fun. Afterwards you’ll enjoy dinner right here, featuring your hand-made gnocchi, of course.

DAY 5: Città della Pieve

• Highlights: Studio with Elizabeth, wrap-up, farewell dinner
• Breakfast, dinner

This morning, after breakfast, you’ll head to the studio for a full session with Elizabeth as you continue to work on collage application and embellishment techniques for your modern medieval portrait. Lunch today is on your own.  

In the afternoon it’s back to the studio as you wrap-up your project with finishing touches–mark making, sealing, and signing. This evening we’ll gather together for a celebratory gallery show before enjoying a delicious farewell dinner served up by Chef Jordy.  

DAY 6: Departure

Early morning departure to Rome Fiumicino Airport.

VENUE Boutique Hotel Vannucci

Hotel Vannucci began as a project of Vittoria Spinola, daughter of King Vittorio Emanuele II, who fled Pisa (and an arranged marriage with her elderly husband) to start a new life with her lover in Città della Pieve. Here, she and her soon-to-be new husband, Paolo, built two villas that became luxurious holiday accommodations for wealthy Romans vacationing in the countryside. In 1903 one of the villas became Hotel Vannucci, and today it maintains the elegance and refinement of its inception, with luxurious sleeping rooms, marble bathrooms and inviting gardens. A stay here is truly special, nestled just outside the medieval walls of the historic, and unspoiled, village of Città della Pieve. 

VIEW the Photo Gallery

WHAT’S Included…

• 5 nights at Boutique Hotel Vannucci (less than a two-minute walk from the workshop space!)
• Group transportation by private transportation service to/from Rome Fiumicino Airport on arrival and departure dates. 
• Private transportation service to/from all towns and sites included in the itinerary
• All breakfasts
• 2 lunches
• 4 dinners 
• Excursion to Orvieto
• Marbled paper lesson with paper artisan
• Excursion to Santa Maria degli Angeli
• Guided village walking tours
• Church art tours
• Elizabeth St. Hilaire’s in-depth lessons, demonstrations, presentations and one-to-one instruction
• ⭐️ BONUS! $100 worth of workshop supplies, including a canvas panel for your project (that will fit into your suitcase) and use of gel plates, brayers, Italian-themed print materials and more!!!
• ➡️ NOT INCLUDED:
  • 9×12 Rice Paper Pad
  • Basic Paint Brush Pack OR bring what you’re comfortable with or have on hand
  • Princeton Catalyst #8 Short Handle Filbert Brush for collage glue application

The Unexpected is Part of the Journey: Sometimes unexpected things come up. If there is unscheduled closing or schedule change, we carefully pivot to include something that is equally as wonderful and interesting, so that the quality of your experience is never at risk. ☺️

Note that airfare, meals or transportation outside of that which is specifically listed in the trip package, gratuities for hotel staff and drivers are not included in the trip price.

ABOUT ELIZABETH ST. HILAIRE

Elizabeth St. Hilaire is an award winning full-time artist, art workshop instructor, and published author. She is a former Golden Artist Educator, a former Ambassador for Princeton Brush, and former Creative Team Artist for Gel Press. Her work is also featured on Fredrix Canvas packaging.

Her unique mixed-media artwork is created from torn tidbits of hand-painted paper which she glues down over an acrylic under-painting. St Hilaire’s collages are collected and have been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Images of her work are reproduced and available nationwide on wall canvas, household items, stationery, clothing, jewelry, and more.

Elizabeth is a Signature Member of National Collage Society, holds a BFA from Syracuse University, and has been working in her medium for over 15 years. She has published seven books on her process.

Visit Elizabeth’s website at PaperPaintings.com

DATES AND DETAILS

• Dates: August 24-29, 2026
• Trip Price: $4,195 – $4,995 USD (select room type upon booking)
• Room Descriptions:
  • Single Occupancy Standard: single bed, ensuite bathroom
  • Single Occupancy Classic: double bed, ensuite bathroom, walk-in shower
  • Single Occupancy Superior: double bed, ensuite bathroom with tub/shower combination
  • Double/Twin Occupancy Superior: double bed or 2 singles, ensuite bathroom, tub/shower combination (for two people traveling together – we do not pair-up guests)
  • Double/Twin Occupancy Deluxe: more spacious room with double bed or 2 singles, ensuite bathroom, separate tub and shower (for two people traveling together – we do not pair-up guests)
• A $700 deposit is required to book your space
• Arrival and departure airport Rome Fiumicino
• View our Terms and Cancellation Policy

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