Send Art Home?

Probably yes to all the questions but trusting the artist. We have only bought small prints - 8x10 or a little larger and put in the bottom of the luggage. You can get mailing tubes at the same place in Italy as the US.

We purchase a piece of art on each trip. We buy them all un framed and bring them home with us where they all hang in one room-they are a great souvenir and a great conversation piece. We often will buy a small watercolor that lies flat and doesn't take up much room. But we have also bought small oils on canvas and carry them on with us. We will often check our bags coming home as they have wine or olive oil in them so carrying a small shopping bag with our painting in it is not a problem as our carryon luggage. We have, on occasion, purchased a larger ceramic or glass piece which we have had shipped. But those were always in a "shop" or gallery and not purchased on the street.

Dale, please, please, please make sure you are purchasing original art! Piazza Navona (and other tourist areas) is now largely populated by sales people with stacks of "paintings" that are mass-produced and that you can find anywhere. Perhaps Ron in Rome has something to share on this topic? If you do find art, the artist will often provide a "tube" for the piece. I suggest using the Vatican Post Office or a private company (like DHL or FedEx) for shipping. I would trust the artist before the Italian postal service.

Zoe hit the nail on the head. Watch what you buy, and use DHL or FedEX, or the Vatican post. That is how we got a very large framed picture home from Siena. (and it took forever to arrive!)

May I suggest a shop one block towards the river from Emanula, just up from the Campo de Fiori. The artist is Maria grazia Luffarelli. She is a personal friend we met by going to her shop many times. If you google her name you will see what she does. Her work is beautiful, easy to bring home or she will mail large pieces and affordable, Enjoy

I've carried art home in a postal tube for framing once I get it home. Generally, don't expect too much. If you like it and it's a decent price, fine. As Zoe said, don't get too worked up about the quality of the art. (Aside) I once had a wedding portrait painted in Korea from one of our wedding pictures. They were supposed to mail it to me. It didn't come. The next time I was in Korea (at least six months later) I went to the place I ordered it. They took me to their storage room and found the painting - for some reason they had lost the address to mail it to. The picture itself was hilarious. My wife is half-Spanish and a California beach girl - so usually quite tan. They painted her with eyes like a Korean. We laughed and laughed about it. Unfortunately, we didn't keep the picture. If I had it now, I'd hang it on the mantel just to laugh at (fortunately, my wife shares my sense of humor).

Brad, just to clarify, I get very worked up about the art! I lived in Rome, on and off, for several years and got to know some of the real artists in the city. I also stumbled upon many a workshop by just walking down side streets (not during lunch/siesta time).