Idyl Settimello

Andrew Rush

Settimello, Italy is the largest fraction of the municipality of Calenzano at the foot of Monte Morello, in the province of Florence and derives its name from the location, seven miles from the ancient Roman Florentia. It was the home of 12th century poet Henry the Poor who was so poor he could not afford paper and was forced to write on animal hides.

Andy Rush did this etching as a publication for Associated American Artists (AAA) in an edition of 250, after having spent time in Florence in 1958 on a Fulbright Grant. His composition depicts an idyllic day in Settimello; people of all ages bask in the sun, just relaxing. Minutes later the dyanamic will change.

Andy Rush once related that he printed every impression of these editions of 250 himself over a period of around a week. Though he only received a few dollars per impression it was enough to sustain him for many months in Oracle, Arizona in the 1960s. The added benefit was that his work was distributed around the US and internationally.