About Fondo Oro Magazine
Publisher Roberto De Simone in a Fondo Oro style painting (created by AI).
"To me, gold-ground panels are not merely historical artifacts — they are among the earliest media techniques, constructed to transform light through gilded surfaces and extraordinary craft. My goal is to make this tradition of sacred art digitally tangible for a new generation of connoisseurs." - Roberto De Simone
Fondo Oro Magazine is an independent digital publication dedicated to the world of Italian gold-ground panels from the period of approximately 1250 to 1430. This website is a space for deeper engagement with the masters of the Duecento, Trecento and Quattrocento.
Fondo Oro Magazine is designed for collectors, art dealers, curators, and other enthusiasts and provides news, auction highlights, publications, video recommendations and educational resources that illuminate the technical brilliance, the historic value and the timeless aesthetic of this art category.
Whether you are searching for the next highlight for your collection, staying informed about exhibitions, or simply wish to understand the magic of this art, Fondo Oro Magazine is your digital companion.
Fondo Oro Magazine is published by Roberto De Simone. Based in Bonn, Germany, Roberto De Simone carries two cultures within him through his family (father) roots in Irpinia, Campania, Italy and (mother) the Cologne-Bonn region in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany. This duality paired with an high interest for Italian Gold-Ground paintings - defines the DNA of this publication.
As a online native Roberto De Simone has spent his professional life exploring how art can be made visible in the digital space. With Fondo Oro Magazine, he merges this expertise with a fascination for the "Primitives" of Italian painting.
Fondo Oro Magazine operates with independence and is not beholden to any publisher, museum, gallery or auction house.