Sculpture Immersion with
Romolo Del Deo
in Villa Casone D’Arte
May 2-May 9, 2026
Villa Casone d’Arte offers a rare opportunity to reside and work within the private estate of master sculptor Romolo Del Deo, set amid the historic hills of Tuscany overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The seventeen-hectare property traces its origins to 778 AD, with the present villa reconstructed in 1678. In the 1960s, the artist Rosario Murabito transformed the estate into a unified work of art for the Contessa Ottolenghi, integrating sculpture, architecture, and landscape. In 2024, Tatiana and Romolo Del Deo undertook a careful restoration of the villa as an artist’s home, devoted to art, beauty, and la dolce vita. You are now invited to experience this inspiration firsthand.
The Residency
This seven-day sculptural immersion is conceived as a residency rather than a course. Participants engage in five sessions of direct wax sculpting, following methods employed by Italian masters since the Renaissance.
it is best suited to individuals with curiosity about artistic process and a desire to explore their creativity in an idyllic setting.
Each participant will complete an original sculptural work prepared for the lost-wax bronze casting process. Those wishing to continue may apply to a subsequent program dedicated to bronze casting from their work.
Instruction is led personally by Romolo Del Deo and combines demonstration, guided creating, and individual critique within the working atelier of the villa.
Included in the Program
— Five half-days of studio instruction with the maestro
— Demonstrations, guided critique, and use of all core tools and sculptural materials
— Private visit to bronze foundries and marble ateliers in Pietrasanta
— Curated cultural excursion to nearby Lucca
— Tuscan cooking experience with Chef Elizabeth Ceri, followed by a communal dinner.
— Welcome dinner on the arrival evening
— Farewell dinner on the final night — Daily breakfast and light lunch served at the villa
— Morning warm-up sessions on the terrace
— Access to the olive-grove sauna
— Insurance and on-site administrative support throughout the residency. Registered car service for all residency excursions.
Tuition & Participation
Admission: By application only. Program Fee: Please contact us at info@studioromolo.com
Duration: Seven days / six nights
Enrollment: Limited to six participants
Accommodation
Participants may choose to:
— Reside as house guests at Villa Casone d’Arte (no additional charge, limited availability), or
— Stay independently at a nearby boutique hotel within a short drive of the estate. Hotel accommodations not included in program fee.
If you choose to stay with us, private bedrooms within the villa are appointed with original artworks and offer panoramic views across the surrounding Tuscan landscape. Accommodation arrangements are confirmed following acceptance.
Companions
Participants may be accompanied by one non-participating companion.
Companions are welcomed as house guests and may join the social and cultural life of the villa, including shared meals and select excursions. Participation in instruction activities is not included.
Please contact us for more information.
Confirmation & Payment
Full payment is required to confirm participation. Payment plans may be available upon request.
Studio Romolo LLC reserves the right to decline any application; all payments will be refunded in such cases.
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to the program start date are refundable. Cancellations within 30 days are non-refundable.
In the event of force majeure, rescheduling or credit may be offered. Travel insurance is recommended.
Exclusions
International and local travel not included in the program, accommodation for off-site guests, additional evening meals beyond those listed, and personal supplies and studio apparel beyond provided sculptural materials are not included.
Applications
Villa Casone d’Arte welcomes a small circle of individuals seeking focused artistic engagement within a private cultural setting. The program is accessible to all levels of experience. No prior sculptural training is required for this residency;
To request further information please contact us directly by email or request a call
About Romolo Del Deo
Background
Studio Romolo Atelier is lead by artist and master sculptor, Romolo Del Deo.
He is the founder of the Long Art Movement which is the cornerstone of his teaching method. His training includes degrees from Harvard Univeristy (AB 82) and L’Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze as well as in the studios of masters in the US and Italy, including Dimitri Hadzi, Joyce Johnson and Rino Giannini, professor of Marble Sculpture at L’Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara.
Teaching
His teaching methods have received the Harvard-Danforth Award for Excellence in Education and
the President’s Award for Contributions to the Arts. He has served on the faculty of Harvard University, The London Academy of Art, The Provincetown Art Association Museum and the Truro Center for the Arts as well as founding his own studio school: Studio Romolo Alteier.
Exhibitions
The artwork of Romolo Del Deo has been exhibited in over 100 featured gallery exhibitions across four continents, as well as internationally in public monuments and museums. He has received major awards
and prizes, including the New York Foundation for the Arts USA, The Henry Moore Foundation UK, INHA Grant France, The Florence Biennale De Medici Gold Medal, Italy and the David McCord Prize for Creativity USA and three time recipient of The Sumner Bird Foundation Creative Grant amongst others.
Recognition
His artwork has won acclaim globally, honored recently by the Art Newspaper as one of the most important projects of the Venice Art Biennial 22, His work has won acclaim representing 21st Century Art of the United States at the 2017 G7 of Art in Italy as well as the Honoree Exhibitor at the 2017 Florence Biennale
Sculpting in Direct Wax
The method of working directly in wax to produce works capable of being cast in bronze: Sculpting in wax offers a lightweight flexible and adaptable material to express fluid ideas in form. Direct wax lets the artist work in three dimensions with freedom from cumbersome armatures and avoids the costs of molds in bronze casting.
Studio Romolo Atelier
Methods and Training
Studio Romolo offers training in the following Long Art techniques and supporting creative approaches
Sculpting in Direct Wax
The method of working directly in wax to produce works capable of being cast in bronze: Sculpting in wax offers a lightweight flexible and adaptable material to express fluid ideas in form. Direct wax lets the artist work in three dimensions with freedom from cumbersome armatures and avoids the costs of molds in bronze casting.
Creating Through Natural Drawing
Natural Drawing uses all natural materials and draws upon intuitive methods to allow the creation of vibrant and evocative drawings, regardless of the experience level.
Sculpting in Direct Plaster
Building large sculpture directly in plaster, as seen in the movie “The Artist and the Model”: Direct Plaster allows the artist to create large scale ideas quickly and “rough out” concepts in three dimensions with great expressive results.
Idea Building for Artists & Creatives
A unique multi disciplinary class to develop creative and productive work habits as well as how to turn those habits into creative projects. First part of the class takes place in the studio. The second part takes places in a historic Provincetown dune shack.
Portraiture Straccio Method Creative Clay
Working in natural clay from a live model, this course will explore the method and artistic possibilities of creating a portrait using the Renaissance Master’s Straccio Method of modeling exclusively taught at Studio Romolo Atelier
Figure Sculpture Straccio Method Creative Clay
Working in clay from a live model, this course will explore the method and artistic possibilities of working from the figure in natural clay, using the Renaissance Master’s Straccio Method of modeling exclusively taught at Studio Romolo Atelier