by a 21st century interpretation of 17th century romanticism
Theo C. Domini’s MEDICI concept series summons the imagination of 17th-century historical paintings depicting young and aspiring artists on their travels across Europe. The conceptual digital renderings imagine 21st century architectural interiors that reinterpret the studios and private chambers of ambitious artists who had traveled across the continent on The Grand Tour on an empowering journey in search of inspiration, education and instruction.
Renderings reveal minimalist, almost primitively rustic cameras that are left free of any embellishment to create a relaxing space to rest and seclude, prompting the inhabitants to summon their imagination for introspection. Darkness of wood The spaces create a feeling of intimacy and romance, with vast empty rooms illuminated only by soft glows of light.
Medici by Theo Domini and William Guillon
Seeking inspiration for his series, Theo C. Domini looks at the portraits of artists traveling through 17th-century Italy, including a portrait of French painter Louis Vincent Leon Pallière in his bedroom/studio at Jean Alaux’s Roman Medici Villa. Created in 1817, the scene captures a reduced sense of intimacy and romanticism with the artist playing his instrument wistfully against a picturesque natural backdrop, surrounded by just a few of his cultural finds that adorn the walls.
The sparse interiors of 17th-century paintings, devoid of lavish ornamentation, mark an unexpected juxtaposition to the lavish connotations of The Grand Tour. The images capture ‘a balance between the superb influence of the environment that welcomes [the artist]and a certain distance that allows it to become the support of an experience with ourselves’. Domini writes.
The architect Colaborate with designer William Guillon to render interiors that capture a similar sensibility. The rustic and minimalist interiors isolate the inhabitant’s mind from distractions, with the total lack of decorations pushing them to introspect on an inner journey. Everything is organized around basic needs, furnished without excess, fostering a reconnection with the notion of a primitive life.
The natural beauty of the weathered woods, a soft glow of light that illuminates dark interiors as if emanating from candlelight, and the vast renaissance windows together invite contemplation.‘Here, surrounded by very little, the influence of the place makes you think about things differently.’
Louis Vincent Leon Pallière in his bedroom at Villa Medicis by Jean Alaux (1817)
project information:
Name: DOCTORS
designer: Theo C. Domini and William Guillon
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edited by: ravail khan | design boom
