About
"To me, gold-ground panels are not merely historical artifacts — they are one of the earliest media techniques, built to transform light through gilded surfaces and extraordinary craft. My aim is to make this tradition of Italian gold-ground panel painting digitally tangible for a new generation of connoisseurs." - Roberto De Simone
Founded in 2026, 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. The magazine is a space for deeper engagement with the masters and artworks of the late Duecento, Trecento and early Quattrocento.
Fondo Oro Magazine is designed for collectors, art dealers, private and public institutions, and other fondo oro enthusiasts and provides news, exhibition dates, publications and educational resources that illuminate the technical brilliance, the historic value and the timeless aesthetic of this art category.
Whether you want to stay informed about exhibitions and new research, or simply wish to understand the magic of Italian gold-ground panel painting, 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 roots in Irpinia, Campania, Italy and 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 an 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 holds press accreditation with, or receives press materials from several major museums across Europe. Museum press images are reproduced under the terms of each institution's press licence.
Fondo Oro Magazine operates with independence and is not beholden to any publisher, museum, gallery or auction house.
Roberto De Simone, Editor & Publisher