Meltzer painted Fiesole while abroad in Italy. In a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Burrill, who ultimately purchased Fiesole when it was exhibited at the Minneapolis Art Institute’s annual show in 1923, Meltzer described the experience behind the painting:

“Very few of the places I visited while abroad came up to my expectations, quite as much as Florence and its little neighboring town of Fiesole…As we near the little town mounts higher and higher, leaving the little clusters of quaint houses in the valley below. Once in Fiesole, you have a wonderful view of the valley of the Arno, the river which flows thru [sic] Florence and which is bridged by one of the most unusual and picturesque bridges in the world... From the center of this ancient town rises the hill which I have attempted to show in the painting. It was done from the hill opposite. The tall and stately cypress trees dotting the hills like exclamation points together with the five old buildings gives the place an air of solemn grandeur not soon to be forgotten. Yes I must say Fiesole came up to my expectations…”[1]

More information about this painting...

Provenance:

The artist

By purchase to the collection of Mr. Edward Lincoln Burrill, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1923

By descent through the family of Mr. Burrill to the collection of his granddaughter and her husband, private collection, Apple Valley, Minnesota, to present