When travelling in Italy, it’s very easy to fall into a “dolce vita” frame of mind!
Especially if you’re a bit of a romantic like myself! I can turn most walks in medieval towns into some type of historical novel, imagining who lived in this or that stone house, or who stepped on these cobblestones or drank from that ancient well. I have a tendency to wander around these places in a bit of a time-travelling daze. Until…
Until something will bring me right back to the present in a split second! An open window blaring a Top 40 Song. A soccer jersey hanging from a Renaissance building on a clothesline. A recycle bin under an ancient stone arch.
I’ll shake my head and smile, in part because I’ll realize my imagination was operating on the Overload setting, but also because there is simultaneously a grateful astonishment that the everyday life of the present can thrive alongside the very distant past.
This recently happened to me when I was visiting the Tuscan town of Chiusdino. Wandering the narrow streets of the old town, I got lost in my daydreams of native son San Galgano and his sword-in-the-stone legend (more about the legend here) from the 12th century. Then I caught something orange out of the corner of my eye. A jack-o-lantern!
Zoom! Back to present day! There weren’t any Halloween celebrations in the 12th century, nor any pumpkins! Next I saw the bicycle, and then the pesky garden hose that never wants to roll up properly. I started to giggle at my daydreams, but in the next moment, I felt so thrilled that these stone buildings of centuries past still house loving families today.
I took a few photos of this scene, knowing it would be a future painting. I love these scenes of everyday life in extraordinary places!
This painting is still available at the writing of this post. For information about acquiring this painting, or any other, complete the Contact Form below with your questions and I’ll respond to you right away. (For pricing info, go to this page, tap on the painting image and the information icon at the bottom of the screen.)
Art We Wonderful by Marion Younan 
I am so like you, envisioning the folks who had passed through years before. I was once struck at the juxtaposition of a shiny new motorcycle leaning against a medieval church in York, England. It was straight from a time-travel novel. Your painting is sweet and the pumpkins look like they are laughing at the idea.
I’m always challenged by deciding what to include when painting these settings. I will often underrepresent the amount of modern elements – that’s the romantic in me. But in this case, they were the reason I liked this composition when I saw it. I think I would have also included the new motorcycle leaning against the church in York if I was painting it!
I also have a picture of hubby on his motorcycle crossing the drawbridge into Carnarvon Castle in Wales. Would make a great time travel story.