Riva Yachts at Lago di Como, Italy - Print

Background information about the artwork:

Few places in the world set the standard for what the luxury and opulence of "La Dolce Vita" is quite as well as Italy's Lake Como (Lago di Como) does. Known as "a World within a World", it is the third-largest lake in Italy and houses numerous villas and resorts. It has been a famous vacation spot for the wealthy and aristocrats of the world since Roman times, with many celebrities claiming homes along its shores. The Sacro Monte di Ossuccio ("Holy Mount of Ossuccio"), one of nine Italian holy sites of Christianity known as "Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy", is also located along the western edge of Lake Como. The site is dedicated to the Coronation of the Virgin and was added by UNESCO to the World Heritage List in 2003.

Illustrated here against the backdrop of one of the cities on the lake's shores is a depiction of a Riva Aquarama, a luxury wooden runabout motor boat built by Italian yachtbuilder Riva. The company was named after Pietro Riva, a shipwright who first opened his own yard in the town of Sarnico in 1842. Riva has built both transport vessels and motor boats throughout the years, a tradition that continues to this day under Ferreti Group, a multinational shipbuilding company.

The Aquarama model is perhaps one of the company's greatest and most well-known achievements. The name comes from "cinerama" a widescreen projection format first introduced in the 1950s that displayed images from three synchronized 35mm projected onto a large, curved screen. The boat was built from 1962 to 1996 in various specifications including the Lungo, Super Aquarama, and Aquarama Special. Its gorgeous varnished mahogany body, wrap-around windshield, and automotive-inspired cockpit has often earned it the nickname of the "Ferrari of the boat world." All models were twin-engined with horsepower figures ranging from 185 hp to 400 hp per engine. Each Cadillac or Chrysler-derived engine was tuned by Riva to achieve top speeds of 45-50 knots. Owners of the Aquarama included movie stars, members of royal families, and well-to-do individuals looking for the ultimate in sea-worthy luxury.

This illustration was first carefully hand drawn on paper, with immense attention given to ensure that the details of both the vessel and the background are identical to their real life counterparts. The drawing was then digitally illustrated and printed on large and luxurious museum-quality paper.