La Casa Dipinta: A work of art in progress

One of the many links between Todi and Ireland is La Casa Dipinta (‘the painted house’), the house where the Irish artist Brian O’Doherty and his wife, art historian Barbara Novak, lived in Todi for several decades from 1975.  Over many years O’Doherty turned the entire house into an artwork, covering most surfaces with unique wall paintings and distinctive rope drawing installations.  It is now one of the most popular attractions for visitors to Todi.

The Irish art historian (and regular visitor to Todi), Brenda Moore-McCann, has produced a beautiful record of La Casa Dipinta as an artwork, as well as of Brian and Barbara.  Reflecting its international dimension, the book was launched both in Todi (in autumn 2003) and in Dublin, at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in August 2024.  

Among the specially-invited guests at the Dublin launch were our friends from Todi, Elisa Picchiotti and her husband Gabriele Falcioni.  Elisa has worked tirelessly over many years to present La Casa Dipinta, both to Todini and to visitors – but she has also made a valuable contribution to our work on Jacopone.

Pictured at the Dublin launch of La Casa Dipinta: Un’opera d’arte in divenire were the author, Brenda Moore-McCann and the photographer, George Tatge with (on the left) Andy and Louise Halpin of Dublin and (on the right) Elisa Picchiotti and Gabriele Falcioni of Todi.