Writing by Matthew Holden Bates

Alongside my work as a painter, I write essays on art, creativity, history, and fiction set in Florence across past and present.

Where the Circle Meets the Square book cover

Where the Circle Meets the Square

A novel set between Renaissance Florence and the present day, where art, geometry, Leonardo da Vinci, and hidden knowledge converge in the mystery of the Pazzi Chapel.

Sitting on the Steps of the Duomo book cover

Sitting on the Steps of the Duomo

A novel inspired by one of my paintings, following a young art student in Florence as she discovers painting, the city, and herself beneath the shadow of the Duomo.

Essays & Articles

Perugino detail

Cityscape Art Through the Ages

A look at the evolution of the cityscape from the Renaissance to the modern era.

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Michelangelo's David by Matthew Holden Bates

Michelangelo's David

Reflections on one of Florence’s defining works of art.

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Yellow iris and Fibonacci spiral

The Fibonacci Series

Thoughts on design, harmony, and visual structure.

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The Influence of Vincent Van Gogh

The Influence of Vincent Van Gogh

A personal reflection on how Van Gogh’s work shaped my path as a painter.

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