SCALA REGIA #4

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SPREADS AND
LIST OF CONTENTS

1.

STONE DIALOGUES

THE SCULPTURE OF MICHELANGELO IN
THE EYES OF AURELIO AMENDOLA

Interview by the team

“In the course of the last fifty years, Aurelio Amendola dedicated his life to capture the works of artists from diverse styles and ages. An artist on his own, Aurelio is the author of a series of penetrating and highly emotional portraits of the sculpture of Michelangelo. Like in the story of Pygmalion, where a lifeless statue was brought to life, the photographic work of Aurelio Amendola has, through a masterful use of photographic film and a dramatic positioning of light, the ability to allow a dialogue between today’s public and a half-millenium-old sculptures.”

2.

LUXURY OF LEISURE

THE RISE OF INFORMAL DRESS IN
THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Words by Caroline London

“In the 18th Century, there was a curious trend when men and women abandoned their finery in portraiture and instead chose to be painted in a leisurely state of undress. What could they have possibly hoped to achieve by being shown in such a manner?”

3.

QUILTING THE PAST

IN CONVERSATION WITH
JEAN-CHARLES DE RAVENEL

Interview by the team

“For those familiar with the works of Eça de Queiroz, the book «The City and the Mountains» will immediately ring some resemblance to the trajectory of Jean-Charles de Ravenel. The novel tells the story of a 19th Century aristocrat who, growing bored with the pleasures and luxuries of the Parisian urban life, decides to change his life by moving to a remote area where the splendours of nature rival with the splendours of civilization. That is exactly what Jean-Charles and his wife Jackie, Marquis and Marquise de Ravenel, did by exchanging their magnificent Parisian residence for the sunny islands of the Bahamas. It is overlooking “the calm and turquoise color waters of Clifton Bay” that Jean-Charles dedicates himself to creating very evocative and unique collages.”

4.

A CHRISTMAS DINNER

THE CASTLE OF BARBARA
AND RENÉ STOELTIE

Words by Barbara Stoeltie

Photography by René Stoeltie

“A special time such as Christmas, when the cold and lazy days invite us to stay indoors, is the perfect occasion to call to the table the most delicate linens, the finest porcelains and the most precious silver. The setting and combination of all these objects in a cheerful room, summoned for the glorification of food, is not only an act of artistic expression and careful method but also a charming scenario to deepen friendships. Welcome to the Christmas dinner party of Barbara and René Stoeltie!”

5.

LEISURE AND PLEASURE

A CELEBRATORY CHANT TO THE
ULTIMATE SOURCES OF HAPPINESS

Photography by Maria Rita

Art direction by Diogo Mayo and Pierre Roffe

“It has been said that time is the ultimate luxury. But, what if luxury is actually knowing how to cultivate the time we are granted with? Presumably, to cultivate it must mean finding and working on those diversions that capture our interest while preventing us from acknowledging the unsymphathetic passage of time - and its unavoidable fatality. If so, what better way to cultivate it than doing what we want, what we love and whatever makes the bitter notion of time become more agreeable? Departing from this idea, the series of pictures we now present are honest mirrors of what brings us happiness - and happy is how we felt making them -, of those moments and occasions, and those hobbies and activities, that bring sweet pleasure to our merciless lifes. This great - and long - celebratory chant to Leisure and Pleasure is our way of saying that to cultivate the time we are awarded with should be the ultimate luxury to seek.”

6.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

THE ARTWORK OF PETER LLOYD-JONES

Interview by the team

“What fuels the imagination of an artist? What stimulates his creative spur? There is probably no danger to affirm that nothing like the grandness of the small actions of daily life has the quality of rendering in art the most intimate and private episodes of human existence. Peter Lloyd-Jones’ household, a veritable hub of creatives, is the place where the artist finds his inspiration.”

7.

DIOR

RÊVE ET RÉSISTANCE

Words by Pedro Rei

“To beat the unwavering march of memory and outlast time itself is a rare and inebriating fragrance desired by many but available for only a few to smell. Few examples exist of brands whose standing, so distinct and known by us all, have had the talent to resist and remain for so long. Born from the ashes of a crumbled world, the House of Dior mastered as no other the mission of bolstering itself while holding high its flag, counting successes and achieving victories. This journey of dreams, initiated by Christian Dior in 1947, just came to celebrate its 70th anniversary and it was our adamant admiration for the house along with such momentous date that prompted the tribute we now present... Chapeau bas Dior!”

8.

A DISPUTE WITH DISQUIET

A DIOR EXCLUSIVE FOR THE COVER

Photography by Maria Rita

Art direction by Diogo Mayo and Pierre Roffe

“The launch of a new issue of Scala Regia that coincides with the 70th anniversary of the House of Dior could not pass unconsidered and to celebrate the date we decided to work together in the production of a series of classical portraits that not only have the ability to attest the longstanding vivacity of the house but also its will to pace with the future. Special thanks to Féau & Cie for receiving us inside their magical and inimitable premisses.”

9.

ALLURING ARLESIANS

ANTOINE RASPAL AND THE BIRTH OF
THE PORTRAYAL OF FASHION IN ARLES

Words by Clément Trouche

“In the 18th Century, a small French town saw the rise of a very particular and unique chapter in the history of fashion... Traditional influences crossed with the latest trends and fashions adopted from far away culminated in what we call today the Arlesian Costume. Not only witnessing but also leading this very fashionable movement were the Raspals, a gifted family of artists and artisans.”

10.

ECCE HOMO

GERT VOORJANS IN DIRECT SPEECH

Words by Gert Voorjans

Photography by Marcel Lennartz

“The article you will now explore has born out of mutual admiration. We put it so confidently because the man you are about to witness has been a kind supporter of our project ever since our first steps and because, in a sincere exchange, we have felt charmed by his outlandish look and truly original stance on the world. So much that an article which would permit us to extract what makes Gert Voorjans himself and what makes his work so singular was absolutely vital. Sit with us and let’s together discover what we yearned to know and couldn’t be left unasked.”

11.

WINTER WONDERS

FANFARE AND FANTASY
UNDER THE SNOW

Words by Tiago Lorga

“The temperatures go down and the spirits go high. The white surroundings set the stage for an elegant, extravagant and spectacular congress. Furs and rare velvets, gold and silver, men and women... They all concur to draw a magnificent sight, a true winter wonder.”

12.

SACRED AND PROFANE

TWO BATTLING FORCES WITHIN
THE ART OF SANDRO BOTTICELLI

Words by Julia Davies

“A towering figure of the Renaissance, Sandro Botticelli is fairly inscribed in the memory and cultural genes of the entire Western Civilization. His works of religious nature, and more popularly those imbued by secular inspiration, contributed, throughout the centuries, to transform his name into one of the most recognizable and loved in the history of art. Taking on the exercise of exploring the forces that rule the works of Sandro Botticelli, Julia Davies addresses the primordial roots from which stems the master's drive for painting: the love for God or the love for Man.”

13.

AMUSE-BOUCHE

SELECTION OF FRAGRANCES
AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Photography by Pierre Roffe

“'Amuse-nez', that literally means 'nose amuser', would perhaps be a fitter description of the following selection of grooming products. Sweet and spicy, subtle and strong, soft and voluptuous, these products have the ability of performing the most devastating sensorial experiences.”

14.

INDECOROUS GENIUS

THE ARTWORK OF BONDAREV SERGEY

Words by Bondarev Sergey
edited by Aron Ouzilevsky

“Unlikely a first choice for many, the works of Bondarev Sergey gain their merit after a closer look. A few minutes into reading the brilliant text by the one behind an unexcused approach to contemporary art will teach you how being safe is simply a synonym of being lazy.”

15.

SEEING AS AN EXERCISE

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF FRANCIS HAMMOND

Words by Pierre Roffe

“If you are a voracious reader of art books, the chance of coming across the name of Francis Hammond is extraordinarily likely. No respectable library dedicated to themes such as architecture, interiors, art and food will ever be complete without the titles for which he has contributed to. Primus inter pares, the work of Francis Hammond has been inspiring us for a long time and the next step was of course approaching the photographer himself. In the spirit of this issue of Scala Regia, the following pages rend tribute to the pleasures of leisure and to the love for finding beauty in the ordinary things.”

SCALA REGIA, 2024