Who are the "I Madonnari"?

The Madonnari or Madonna painters go back to the 1500's, when traveling folk artists, using brightly-colored chalks, would copy paintings of the Madonna by Raphael, Michelangelo and other Masters onto the pavement of sidewalks or public squares in Italy. This creative and unique art form, also simply known as "street painting" began an artistic tradition that experienced a rebirth in the mid 1970's and is now found throughout the world.

Today, I Madonnari festivals are held annually in Europe, Africa and the United States. This Competition brings this Renaissance tradition to Houston area high school students. Although Madonna images are still popular, today's subjects range from traditional master-style works to modern images where the sky (or, more appropriately, the sidewalk) is the limit.

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Source: http://houstonitalianfestival.com