Special workshop for school 

• Botanical workshop 
• Roman amphora
• “Cocciopesto” ancient Roman technique
• The Egyptian sculpture between magic and mystery

ARTISTIC BOTANICAL WORKSHOP

Botanical analysis of the species

Workshop: modeling

 mixed clay extracted from local quarries

Explore the magic hidden in clay. The perfect workshop for the elementary school. The student will discover the secret and the techniques of the Italian arts typical of a Bottega d’Arte, through the realization of an artifact inspired to botanical themes from the rich species in these areas. The following themes will be tackled interactively: the composition of clay, the impression on simple geometric shapes.

DURATION: 1.30 hours

1. PROJECT PHASE : analysis of the botanical species present inside the Gardens Villa Melzi, theory of the chemical composition of the clays of the  Lombard tradition.
2. OPERATIONAL PHASE : basic principles of proportions, modeling with a ductile material, analysis of volumes and the principle of impression on flat surface, study of  prints and textures.

PARTICIPANTS : min. 12 – max 25 for group  (it is possible have many session )

ROMAN AMPHORA

The student will discover the secret and the techniques of the Italian arts typical of a Bottega d’Arte. The strategic position of Bellagio favorite in the past the Roman settlement, that influenced its customs. From here starts the research on the objects of common use, such as vessels and amphorae,  used for the conservation of important raw materials such as oil. The workshop will allow you to discover how these objects were made in antiquity through ancient  italian techniques such The “Colombino” and  the moulding.

The workshop is from 9 to 16 years old. The course will be structured on different levels based on the age of the students

DURATION: 1.30 hours

1. PROJECT PHASE : project bases on the history of peoples lived in the territory of Bellagio with reference to the Roman sculpture in Villa Melzi.
2. OPERATIONAL PHASE : clay modeling of the object with particular attention to the proportions and function.

PARTICIPANTS : min. 12 – max 25 for group  (it is possible have many session )

COCCIOPESTO

Discover the Roman civilization and realizing one of the most popular materials in the past, to rebuild the main buildings, the “cocciopesto“, used for centuries in aqueducts and thermal baths for its  great waterproof properties and as coatings,
domus flooring and simple dwellings. We speak about themes like the reuse, and in groups they  do all the process to make a small portion of cocciopesto . Any group  after a theoretical explanation, they can experiment the phases of the process. 

The workshop is from 8 to 11 years old. The course will be structured on different levels based on the age of the students

DURATION: 1 hours

1. THEORETICAL PHASE : historical lesson on “Cocciopesto” technique and on it’s use in the past 
2. PRODUCTION OF SAMPLE’S PHASES : realization of a small portion in“Cocciopesto”  through various phases.

PARTICIPANTS : min. 12 – max 25 for group  (it is possible have many session )

THE EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE BETWEEN MAGIC AND MYSTERY

Workshop: sculpture and modeling 

The Egyptian collection of the Gardens of Villa Melzi contains secrets and mysteries  connected to the Egyptian culture, the students will explore the magic tales of the divinity “Sekhmet”. From the story they  will proceed to the analysis of Egyptian artistic representations making on their clay table, through the engraving technique, the shape of the divinity. With particular attention to the principle of the Egyptian canons. 

The workshop is from 7 to 15 years old. The course will be structured on different levels based on the age of the students

DURATION: 2 hours

1. HISTORY OF THE MYTH : history of the myth of Sekhmet divinity 
2. PRODUCTION OF SAMPLE’S PHASES : realization of a clay table with the engraving technique.

PARTICIPANTS : min. 12 – max 25 for group  (it is possible have many session )