WHAT?  Pasquarosa - From Muse to Painter 

WHERE? Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, London N1 2AN

WHEN? Now until 28th April 

WHY GO? For an air of romance.  You can feel the love pulsating through this divine exhibition by little known (today) Italian artist Pasquarose Marcelli.  All is revealed in Islington's intimate Estorick Gallery as her fascinating life and career is chronicled, and it's the sort of story that lends itself to a good romantic film.

Known simply by her christian name, the captivating young Pasquarosa was first an artist’s model then a self taught artist herself.  Acclaimed throughout the Twenties, she became one of the first Italian artists to have a solo exhibition in London at that time.  

Documents of her landmark exhibition at the renowned Arlington Gallery in 1929 are on show alongside fifty or so of her exuberant still life paintings.

This charming little exhibition feels overwhelmingly romantic as it follows her marriage to the successful figurative artist Nino Bertoletti whom she had posed for,  and pays tribute to their happy union.  

Alongside her joyful splashy paintings of flowers are his tender portraits of her and their children. 

It almost feels possible to bottle the fragrance of flowers as you breeze through this show. 

Pasquarosa died in 1973 at the age of 76, just two years after her husband and the exhibition has been made possible through their joint archive in Rome. 

IN THE KNOW Inspired by Pasquarosa and fancy trying your hand at drawing, even if you are an absolute beginner as she was?  Amongst a series of workshops on offer at the Estorick, artist Rea Stavropoulos is heading up a still life art class, ‘Drawing with Pasquarosa: Colours and Composition’ on 14th February, booking details online.