Fresco Painting in the Veneto

presented by David Henderson

Some of Italy’s most celebrated paintings were created using the ancient technique of fresco, of which a significant number are located in the Veneto. The cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua represents the supreme masterpiece of Giotto, a foundational figure in European art, and the fresco decorations made for the Villa Barbaro at Maser by Paolo Veronese are considered the most important of their era. One of the most brilliant practitioners in this demanding medium was the 18th century Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, whose elaborate murals and ceiling paintings brought him international fame.

After initial studies in architecture, David Henderson spent four years at London’s Royal Academy Schools where he was awarded the S.J. Solomon prize for figure painting and was twice selected for the Academy’s annual summer exhibition. Since then, he has held over 30 solo exhibitions in London, Rome, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. His work has been selected for a number of prestigious group exhibitions, including the New English Art Club, the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and Tattersall’s Landscape Prize. David has been the recipient of numerous awards including – on two occasions – Best of Show at the Brisbane Rotary art exhibition. In 2021, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Queensland Art Society. David has lectured for the Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland University of Technology and the Brisbane Institute of Art. He has accompanied over 50 tours for ASA to Italy, France, the UK and the USA and now spends a part of each year living and working in Italy. David brings a trained artist’s eye to an analysis of painting, sculpture and architecture and takes great pleasure in sharing his knowledge.