Fine Art Print Collection
New Fine Art Collection: Cremona – Under the Shadow of Il Torrazzo
Apr
I’m super excited to announce the release of a new fine art collection inspired by one of northern Italy’s most quietly beautiful cities, Cremona. Through this series I wanted to capture the soul of a place. That sense of familiarity yet the unknown hidden in the depths of the alleys as the light creates natural spotlights. A sense of Cremona being lived-in.
It isn’t the kind of city that demands your attention, it draws you in slowly through the warmth of its terracotta buildings. You can spend the whole day just following the arches and maze of side streets. Along its warm earth‑toned streets I found quiet parks, striking facades washed in pastel colors, and the city’s heart in the piazzas.
What Makes this Collection Special
This collection is a visual journey through the streets of Cremona. It explores Piazza del Comune and the surrounding streets, with photographs that play with light and perspective around Cremona’s incredible cathedral. I also wanted to pay respect to Il Torrazzo di Cremona, the tallest brick bell tower in Italy. Finally, it celebrates moments of serendipity, from quiet lunches in shaded courtyards to chance encounters on sunlit streets, capturing the unplanned beauty that exists in the spaces between landmarks.
There are a few themes which run throughout this collection of 33 fine art prints. Collect them all, or choose your favorites.
The Shadows and Light of Cremona
Cremona is a city where sunlight and shadow play across brick and marble, revealing hidden corners and quiet perspectives. Through archways and narrow intersections, light frames the city in fleeting, intimate moments, hinting at secrets just out of reach and encouraging us to pause and look closer.
In The Beckoning, the depths of a brick archway allow light to act as a natural spotlight on the building ahead. As you admire the architecture, you’re left wondering what might be hidden in the shadows around you.
Ciao Cremona captures one of Cremona’s most striking landmarks, the cathedral facade, shining brightly in the sunlight. From the depths of a side alley, it appears like light at the end of a tunnel, impossible to miss.
In Cremona Flow, sunlight splashes across a narrow alley, creating an almost optical illusion that warps the flow of the city and gives the street a surreal, dreamlike quality.
Life Between the Landmarks
From closed shutters to a lone figure walking along residential streets, I wanted to capture the city’s gentle, unhurried rhythm. It’s the quiet life that exists behind historic facades, a contrast to the bustling landmarks just around the corner.
In Just Wait, the pale green shutters of a residential building lie perfectly closed, keeping out the midday sun, before opening in the early evening to let a gentle breeze sweep through the corner of the side street.
It Only Takes One shows the character of Cremona’s rooftops and streets below. There’s literally no cookie-cutter buildings. A lonely shadow of just one person walking away is the only sign of life. Quiet yet distinctly urban, these streets offer a gentle contrast between expectation and reality.
And then, away from the tourist landmarks, Realdo Colombo shows a different pace altogether, with quiet side streets reflecting the rhythms of everyday life in Cremona.
Architectural Rhythm
The beauty of Cremona emerges in its brickwork, arches, and towers. Almost every building is layered with centuries of history, creating a visual rhythm that runs through the city’s streets and squares. Cathedral towers rise from the streets in ‘Earth Rise’ and ‘Ignition’, where intricate architectural details catch the eye and reward careful observation.
In ‘Earth Rise’, the brickwork towers jut up from the earth below, revealing the historic masonry. Look closely and, within a small alcove, you’ll spot a solitary white statue quietly observing the scene. In ‘Ignition’, the bell tower of the cathedral complex stands proud, almost like a rocket ready to ignite, displaying its intricate bell-roof design and layered, patterned brickwork.
Read about my first experience exploring Cremona, and the stories behind many of the shots that made it into my collection. Read the whole Cremona story here.
Hidden figures, natural frames, and distant turrets invite exploration in L’Apertura and La Chiusura, two pieces of fine art that reveal Cremona’s depth and the play between architecture and perspective.
In ‘L’Apertura,’ bright red brickwork and a marble facade open to allow the bell-top towers to peek through the gap. Unseen from behind, two ornate white figures hide in the shadows, visible only to those who take the time to look.
In ‘La Chiusura,’ getting lost while exploring Cremona reveals a treasure trove of natural framing, with layers of architecture to peer through and a distant tower rising beyond. It almost feels like the home of a lost princess, trapped high above and waiting, as time slowly passes by.
The Colors and Street Life
Beyond its landmarks, Cremona thrives in color, texture, and everyday human presence. Pastel-hued houses, quiet pathways, and morning light on brickwork create a picture of domestic life, where small moments become the focus points.
In La Cremonesa, a quiet residential street away from the crowds comes to life as a lone resident cycles through, breaking the morning sun. The brickwork flows from the buildings to the pathway below, while the shops remain closed beneath their awnings, still waiting for their owners to begin the day. I love this early moments of the day before everyone else is awake.
In LRC, the colors of Cremona’s residential buildings blend from terracotta to salmon pink and minty green, adding a splash of individuality to each street and revealing the quiet charm that exists beyond the city’s landmarks.
Zoom in on these bright facades of The Colors of Cremona, and you can truly see the character of each building. They almost look like a collage composition, where the bright, vivid tones mingle with earthen shades.
In Sorbet and Sunrays, the blue dome of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta melts into the clear skies above Cremona. Sunlight strikes the soft, sorbet-colored walls of the residential blocks lining the narrow alleyways that lead toward the cathedral. Blending everyday architecture with one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Playing with Perspectives
Cremona’s streets twist and fold, leading to moments of discovery where landmarks and everyday life intersect. Turning corner after corner, you often find yourself back where you began, yet each path reveals something new along the way.
In Paths to Promises, the side streets loop and open unexpectedly, revealing small churches rising quietly above the rooftops. The Torrazzo, the bell tower of the Cathedral of Cremona, is one of the tallest brick towers in the world. In ‘The Brick Roost’, at just the right moment, a bird soared past the tower and I managed to capture it in flight. Something fleeting against something so solid and fixed in time.
For ‘The Source’, I shifted the viewpoint to above the city, looking down onto Piazza del Comune, the beating heart of Cremona. Surrounded by some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the towers a dark shadow over the life below.
Available Now in the Shop
There are many more beautiful art pieces to explore in the shop under the Cremona: Under the Shadow of Il Torrazzo collection. Each piece is printed on museum-quality archival paper designed to last 75 years, and 15% of each purchase goes to charity.
Whether you’ve visited Cremona or are discovering it here for the first time, this collection invites you to slow your gaze and experience the city through moments that are both grand and quietly profound.
Like what you’re seeing so far? Click here to see the full collection.
