Book excerpt: Artists have always flocked to Tuscany, seduced by its outstanding beauty, mild climate and rich cultural history. This lavishly illustrated book presents the interiors of more than twenty Tuscan homes owned by some of the most renowned contemporary artists in the world today, among them Pietro Cascella, Sandro Chia, Isanna Generali, Igor Mitoraj and Gianni Ruffi. While they all work within a framework of structures and interiors saturated with Tuscan culture, all the artists draw deeply on their own creativity and cultural backgrounds to create distinctive, often stunning, homes. Here, they elaborate on their themes, aspirations and inspirations in specially commissioned portraits of themselves at home or in the studio. Mariella Sgaravatti sheds light on the ways in which each interior has been adapted to reflect the owner's personal vision, while Mario Ciampi's photographs vividly convey the ambience created by each artist. Anyone seeking original design ideas will find this sumptuous book a rich source of inspiration.