Ilaria Arciola, MA

Artist Statement

Driven by a profound reverence for the depth of medieval narrative and the two-dimensional visual representation, my practice centres on the study and understanding of the traditional composition and rhythmic elegance of illuminated manuscripts,dating mainly from the 13th-15th centuries. I am also passionate about Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. My current research focuses on illustrating three pivotal cantos: Inferno XIII, Purgatorio IX, and Paradiso 1.  I am searching for a visual, symbolic language that is both historically grounded and sensitive to the text’s metaphysical nuances.

My stylistic approach is influenced by diverse master traditions. I draw heavily from the Très Riches Heures of the Duc de Berry inspired by its treatment of the human figure and architectural framing. However, I seek to balance this European tradition with the atmospheric landscapes of Pieter Bruegel the Elder; and for a deeper sense of space in Nature, I look toward the Chinese Ink Paintings of the Tang and Song dynasties. This cross-cultural dialogue allows me to explore Nature not just as a backdrop, but as a living participant in the narrative. My work is on vellum and painted with handmade watercolours from natural pigments.

I have been exploring the interaction between allegorical figures and the symbolism of the natural world. My work also includes an egg tempera painting inspired by à Mon seul Desire, from the ‘Lady and The Unicorn’ tapestries as well as an illuminated border on vellum inspired by the ‘French Book of Hours’ (1470).

I am at the beginning of this exciting exploration and aim to deepen my studies of the geometry of composition and drawing in order to create contemporary paintings that carry on the tradition of medieval European illuminated manuscripts.