Revel Painting
Rignana Estate
Hilary Williams
&
Susan Mattson
Hilary Williams
Hilary Williams's early interest in painting led her to the formal study of fine arts and art history at Phillips Academy Andover, Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy, and Smith College in Massachusetts. She completed her degree in fine arts with a major in painting, at Washington University in St. Louis. She has been a part of both solo and group exhibitions and has done installation work with Sol Lewitt and Araki. Most recently, she continued her education in Montefiascone, Italy where she studied recreating the medieval palette at the Montefiascone Conservation Project. She currently resides in Denver, but paints public artworks and private commissions across the U.S., Italy, and Costa Rica.
Susan Mattson
Susan Mattson is an artist with 25 years of professional painting experience. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting, with honors, from the Maryland Institute of Art, one of the nation's premier art schools. Susan most enjoys painting from direct observation of nature. She has continued her studies of Plein Air methods with travel to Portugal, Italy, and to National Parks of the U.S.
Settle into the historic Rignana Estate — long afternoons by the infinity pool, and golden-hour walks through vineyards and olive groves. Rooms range from shared to superior ensuite, across the Church House, Stone Cottage, and Casa Bianca.
A creative week shaped by Tuscany, murals, and material exploration.
This immersive retreat follows a workshop structure from concept to completion: collaborative mural design, plein air sketching, faux finish techniques, stencil work, pigment mixing, and time to develop an individual piece to take home.
Guests move between studio sessions and inspiring local experiences, drawing from the Tuscan countryside, Florence, artisan traditions, and sacred architectural spaces. The tone is elevated, restorative, and deeply hands-on.
Side Trips & Local Experiences
Four jaunts into the Chianti landscape — a monastery, a medieval abbey kitchen, an estate farm, and a countryside dinner — woven through the retreat week.
Abbazia di San Michele Arcangelo — Badia a Passignano
A Vallombrosan monastery set among Antinori vineyards, housing Ghirlandaio's Last Supper. We visit for art-historical inspiration — a guided tour with one of the monks is not to be missed.
€10 per person · payable on site
Badia a Coltibuono — Cooking Class
Cook in the kitchen of an 11th-century Benedictine abbey-turned-estate. The half-day class, led by the cooks of Coltibuono, covers handmade pasta, seasonal dishes, and Tuscan classics — tour and lunch included.
€160 per person · payable on site
Fattoria Corzano e Paterno — Cheese & Olive Oil Tasting
A family farm producing hand-crafted pecorino from Sardinian sheep and extra-virgin olive oil from 4,000 estate trees. The guided tasting and tour takes place in ancient rooms overlooking the Chianti hills.
€40 per person · payable on site
La Cantinetta di Rignana
An intimate farm-to-table restaurant in a restored medieval oil mill, just down the road from the estate. Dinner of cured meats, aged Chianti cheeses, grilled meats, and homemade desserts.
Fee not includedSchedule
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | — | Arrival & Estate Tour | Welcome Aperitivo & Dinner |
| Sun | Mural Design Session | Woodfire Pizza & Mural Painting | Aperitivo & Dinner |
| Mon | Badia a Passignano Monastery Tour | Mural Painting & Light Study | Aperitivo & Dinner |
| Tue | Badia a Coltibuono Cooking Class & Tour | Farm-to-Table Lunch | Aperitivo & Dinner |
| Wed | Corzano e Paterno Tasting & Tour | Resume Mural & Personal Painting | Dinner at La Cantinetta di Rignana |
| Thu | Painting Session | Finish Mural & Take-home Work | Aperitivo & Dinner |
| Fri | Check-out & Farewell | Optional Siena Tour | — |
*Schedule subject to change.
A Day in Siena on the Way Home
For those wishing to linger a day longer in Tuscany, an optional detour south to Siena — Florence's medieval rival, crowned by the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the striped marble Duomo. Easily reached en route to Rome or Pisa.
Rates & Booking
Six nights, full board at Rignana Estate. Prices per stay, in euros.
Shared Bathroom
Shared Bathroom
With Ensuite
With Ensuite
Teaching fee: €500 per participant. Partners & family welcome to join as non-participating guests.
What's Included
- Six nights accommodation
- Daily Italian breakfast
- Three lunches & five dinners
- Daily aperitivo
- Woodfire pizza-making
- All painting materials
- Airport & excursion transfers
- Towels & linens
- Infinity pool & tennis court
- Wi-Fi & laundry
- VAT tax
Not Included
- Wine tours
- Monastery, cooking, and tasting entry fees (paid on-site)
- Optional Siena tour (€20 on-site)
- City tax (€2.50/person/night, cash on arrival)
- Travel to and from Italy
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Bring a partner or family member
Non-participating partners or family members may join the trip without the teaching fee, making the retreat easier to position as both travel and creative experience.
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30% deposit due May 30th
Final payment due July 30thPlease keep in mind payment is in euros. Upon registration, I will guide you through the payment process.
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On 3 October you are very welcome at Rignana Estate at 4 p.m.
Check-out on 9 October is at 10:00 a.m..