The Modern Impressionist workshop retreat at the enchanting 1400 acre estate, Castle Gubbio in Italy. Instructing this weeklong immersive painting event is internationally renowned artist and Vice President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Instructed by Haidee-Jo Summers
Castle Gubbio was built in the Middle Ages to defend the town of Gubbio against Perugia. The castle has retained its defensive character from the outside, but four years of intensive renovation have turned the interior into an extremely welcoming and comfortable house.
The castle is surrounded by a park with century old trees, large lawns and a beautiful pool which looks out over the hilly 1400-acre estate. The estate is signposted with beautiful walks, and in the appropriate season guests can even go truffle hunting with local experts. The owners of the estate are descendants of the family of Napoleon Bonaparte and the castle has been in their family since 1830.
Castello Gubbio is situated on a promontory in Umbria, the region called “the green heart of Italy”, in the territory of Gubbio, surrounded by a large loop of the Chiascio river. It overlooks the Cucco Mount, which has summer sports (trekking and delta plane) and winter sports (skiing) available.
Immerged in an uncontaminated landscape, bordered by woods, grasslands and waters, the history of Castello Gubbio dates back to the middle ages, when it was the heart of the defence of the Commune of Gubbio against Perugia.
The local village can be reached in 8 minutes by car. Gems such as Gubbio, Perugia, Assisi, Cortona, Spoleto and Todi are all within easy reach.
In 1391 Melchiorre Montaiti, Lord Magrano, undertook to go against the Noble Antonio da Montefeltro, Lord of Urbino and Gubbio. Magrano was then severely assaulted with the destruction of its mill (which was built again and still exists today) but the soldiers of the Montefeltro family failed to take over the castle.
In 1431 Magrano moved under the jurisdiction of the Dukes of Montefeltro.
The Modern Impressionist workshop retreat at the enchanting 1400 acre estate, Castle Di Magrano in Gubbio Italy. Instructing this weeklong immersive painting event is internationally renowned artist and Vice President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Instructed by Haidee-Jo Summers
Castle Di Magrano was built in the Middle Ages to defend the town of Gubbio against Perugia. The castle has retained its defensive character from the outside, but four years of intensive renovation have turned the interior into an extremely welcoming and comfortable house.
The castle is surrounded by a park with century old trees, large lawns and a beautiful pool which looks out over the hilly 1400-acre estate. The estate is signposted with beautiful walks, and in the appropriate season guests can even go truffle hunting with local experts. The owners of the estate are descendants of the family of Napoleon Bonaparte and the castle has been in their family since 1830.
Castello Gubbio is situated on a promontory in Umbria, the region called “the green heart of Italy”, in the territory of Gubbio, surrounded by a large loop of the Chiascio river. It overlooks the Cucco Mount, which has summer sports (trekking and delta plane) and winter sports (skiing) available.
Immerged in an uncontaminated landscape, bordered by woods, grasslands and waters, the history of Castello Gubbio dates back to the middle ages, when it was the heart of the defence of the Commune of Gubbio against Perugia.
The local village can be reached in 8 minutes by car. Gems such as Gubbio, Perugia, Assisi, Cortona, Spoleto and Todi are all within easy reach.
In 1391 Melchiorre Montaiti, Lord Magrano, undertook to go against the Noble Antonio da Montefeltro, Lord of Urbino and Gubbio. Magrano was then severely assaulted with the destruction of its mill (which was built again and still exists today) but the soldiers of the Montefeltro family failed to take over the castle.
In 1431 Magrano moved under the jurisdiction of the Dukes of Montefeltro.
Haidee-Jo is a full-time professional artist known for painting landscapes and seascapes ‘en plein air’. Vice President of the Royal Institute of Oil painters (ROI) and an elected member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA) her work can be seen each year at the Mall Galleries in London in these prestigious society exhibitions.
Haidee-Jo writes regularly for The Artist magazine and is proud to be one of their editorial consultants, alongside David Curtis ROI RSMA. Her first book on oil painting, ‘Vibrant Oils’ (published by Search Press), has been reprinted in Spanish, Italian, French and Chinese. Her second book, Plein air painting in oils, has been released in spring 2022 in English and Russian language versions. She has produced two popular DVDs with APV films. Although oils are very much her preferred medium, in the 1990’s Haidee-Jo produced a large body of work for the Encyclopaedia of Watercolour Techniques and is an avid sketcher. In recent years she has been invited to judge UK and international plein air events, after winning many prizes for her work which features fresh and vibrant brushwork coupled with keen drawing and observational skills.
Haidee-Jo gained a degree in illustration following an art foundation course and graduated in 1994. She has been exhibiting and teaching ever since, in recent years having cut back on teaching commitments to focus on painting and writing. She believes very much in continuing to grow and develop, all the while striving to express her personal voice in paint and to do so more and more succinctly.
‘My work is a celebration of light filled moments revealed in rich and vibrant oil paint using my personal visual language of fresh and direct brushmarks. Painting en plein air is central to my practice but I am equally at home working from a model, still life or interior. I find beauty in the ordinary, mundane and intimate rather than the grand vista. Coastal locations, domestic interiors and gardens and allotments provide me with rich and endless subject material.
My approach is one of simplicity and economy, striving to make every mark count in my earnest pursuance of capturing the poetry of a fleeting effect of light.’
Award winning artist Haidee-Jo Summers
5 day plein air workshop
Skill level Beginner to Advanced
Federico da Montefeltro (1422-1482) turned it into his favourite hunting residence. It is said that the Duke was active in the hunting of the fallow deer and wild boars that still populate the residence today. This hunting always finished with a banquet during which guests appreciated the most precious fruits of this land, particularly the truffle.
In 1600, the ownership of the castle went to the noble family of the Carpegna, a family of bishops, cardinals and Priori of various cities in Umbria and Lazio.
In 1830, Magrano became the property of the family that still owns it today. More specifically, it went to Princess Giulia Bonaparte, daughter of two first cousins, Zenaide and Carlo Luciano Bonaparte Prince of Canino, who were both nephews of Napoleon.
It is in this charming corner of nature, in this place so full of tradition and history, that guests can spend some nice days of relaxation and entertainment.
It is in this charming corner of nature, in this place so full of tradition and history, that guests can spend some nice days of relaxation and entertainment. Umbria, often referred to as the “Green Heart of Italy,” is a picturesque region located in the heart of the Italian peninsula. Nestled between Tuscany, Lazio, and Le Marche, Umbria boasts a unique blend of natural beauty, historical charm, and cultural richness.
With its rolling hills, lush vineyards, and medieval towns, this region offers a diverse array of attractions and activities that make it a hidden gem in Italy.