My Uncle Thom often said that "it was not the artist's duty to paint what is there but, rather they might brush what should be there." And so, I followed this advice while painting Castello di Miramare in Trieste, Italy.

This is not to say that the Austrian architecture of this Hapsburg dwelling is not as magnificent as it is depicted for indeed, it is grand. Nor is it to deny the beauty of the gardens that surround the structure because indeed, they are splendid. And I cannot say that the sea which fronts the estate is not clear and calm with the azure color of a robin's egg for, without a doubt, it is all that and more.

What I can say is that while Trieste was scheduled as a port-of-call in my Italian cruise itinerary because of problems at the dock, my ship was not allowed to land. What I had planned to paint, therefore, was rendered from photo references and my own imagination. As my uncle suggested, I painted what should have been there - except for issues created by irate longshoremen! Still, I hope you enjoy my visit to Trieste as much as I enjoyed painting it for you and, as always, thank you for sharing my adventures in art.