In Conversation with Vanessa Nicolson

With independent curator and archivist Carla Danella

Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 6pm

Il Palmerino Cultural Association, Via Il Palmerino 6

Reservations required: associazione@palmerino.it

Vanessa Nicolson is an author and journalist, and a former art historian. Her most recent book, Angels of Mud, is a multi-generational novel set in London’s Italian/Irish neighbourhood of Clerkenwell in the aftermath of World War Two and in Florence at the time of the 1966 Flood.

Vanessa’s grandparents were renowned writer Vita Sackville-West and diplomat Sir Harold Nicolson, who are today best known for having created one of the world’s most famous gardens at Sissinghurst Castle in England. Vanessa has lived in Sissinghurst for over 30 years, in a house – once part of her grandparents’ estate – inherited from her father.

Join us at Villa Il Palmerino for an intimate conversation led by archivist and independent curator, Carla Danella, during which we will explore many of Vanessa’s family connections to Florence – from Vita’s love of the city, to Vanessa’s early encounter with Violet Trefusis at Villa dell’Ombrellino, Luisa’s war years, her work with Berenson, her memories of garden designer Cecil Pinsent, Vanessa’s writing about Florence – and much more.

Vanessa grew up between London and Florence, the daughter of eminent art historians – Luisa Vertova and Ben Nicolson (Vita and Harold’s eldest son). Florentine Luisa was Bernard Berenson’s research assistant at Villa I Tatti, where she lived and worked for a decade after World War Two. Luisa and Ben were brought together through their mutual love of art history and their studies at I Tatti. Luisa continued to research, edit and translate Berenson’s books after she married Ben in 1955 and moved to London.

This event is part of the project: "Florentine Gardens: Early Women Expats and Artists of Today", a 3-year calendar organised by Il Palmerino Cultural Association and Calliope Arts Foundation, in collaboration with the British Institute of Florence, and thanks to donors Margie MacKinnon and Wayne McArdle.