A Dream We Never Dared to Dream!

Guys, I've been waiting to tell you this because I want to give my best shot writing this story. It is that kind of dream that you never thought would happen. So keep up with me.

Since I was a little kid I always loved art, and my mom was a big influence for me. I grew up watching the Basquiat movie on TV every year and was surrounded by art books, but my favorite was Van Gogh. When I needed to choose what to do in college, my dream was journalism, but at that time in Brazil everyone was choosing it, so I thought it would be difficult to find a job after. I did some research and found a niche course that existed in only two universities in São Paulo. It was graphic design with a specialization in books and magazines. So I studied a lot of art during college.

As soon as I finished university I had the opportunity to go to Italy, which was the dream of my life, and one of the first things I did there was study Art History. Every chance I had I would go to exhibitions and explore. When I decided to follow my heart and sell my company to build this business with Clara, one of my goals was to use more of my creative side.

Anyway, I'm just giving you some background so you can understand how big this thing that happened is, for me and for Clara.

Now let me tell you Clara's side. When she was around 12, after her first exhibitions, she started watching the Netflix show about The Medici Family and she was in love with it. She watched documentaries, explored Florence to understand what they did during the Renaissance. And she also painted a full collection of the Medici Family that I am so in love with.

So keep our background stories in mind.

When we were here last time and had the art show in Florence at Toscanino, we met Countess Lucrezia Corsini and her daughter Isabella. We didn't know anything about them. The Countess bought an artwork, My (Oh) Happiness, and we were so happy. They asked us to deliver it the next day. They said come to Palazzo Corsini, and we had no idea what was waiting for us.

It was our last day in Florence and Clara was proudly walking through the city carrying her artwork, and then we arrived at the Palazzo. Guys, we had no idea. The Corsini family has nine centuries of history. They are one of the oldest Florentine families, with a Pope, Clement XII, and a saint, Andrea Corsini, among their ancestors. Through hundreds of years of loving and supporting art, they built a magnificent private collection, rarely seen outside of Florence.

We entered the Palazzo and the first thing they showed us was this cave that had just been restored. It was breathtaking and I had tears in my eyes.

Then we started walking, and they explained that this palace was built just for events, with big rooms designed to have space to dance and have large dinners. Every room has its own frescoes and an incredible private art collection with mythological and religious paintings, portraits, landscapes, costumes, and beautiful furniture.

The most special thing was having Countess Lucrezia and Isabella explaining everything to us. So much history, so much love, so much care about every single detail. I was trying to hold the tears because I was so emotional and so grateful to be living that moment. And I kept thinking about all the responsibility of keeping such an important collection alive every single day.

Then they showed us a Caravaggio, a Botticelli. Can you visualize it? You are just walking through the rooms and then, there it is, a Caravaggio, a Botticelli.

And then they brought us to the room of the women, where they decided to hang Clara's art right next to all these masterpieces. What? Is this really happening? It was the first piece of contemporary art to ever be there.

I still don't have words to describe how big that felt in our hearts. When we started this art thing with Clara we just wanted to create an opportunity for her. And to be there in that Palazzo, with those two wonderful women who work so hard to keep history alive, and to see them value Clara's art, it goes beyond anything we ever imagined.

This time we went to meet them at Villa di Maiano, another treasure of Florence. I could spend days listening to Isabella telling the stories of her family, the art and the work she does to preserve everything. Unfortunately, Countess Lucrezia had the flu, and we couldn't meet her, but we are sending her so much love. Clara asked to see the full family tree, we will watch the documentaries together, and maybe a new collection is coming!

It is such an honor for us, and for Clara at just 20 years old, to have her art as part of their private collection.

It is a dream we never dared to dream, coming true. And it keeps proving that when you follow your heart and take the hard things in life and transform them into something good, magic happens.

We love you sooooo much!
Betina

If you will be in Florence check to visit Palazzo Corsini, Villa di Maiano.