[ Sprezzatura!]

Unrushed composure through the streets of Rome — all while looking great and maintaining a handsomely stoic facial expression.

What is SPREZZATURRA?

• It’s an Italian word, originating from Castiglione’s 16th century book:  The Book of the Courtier.
• Style that looks elegant, not appearing that you tried hard to get there
• Graceful restraint; perhaps a holding of one’s tongue.
• The ability to disguise what one really desires, feels, thinks, and means or intends behind a mask of apparent reticence and nonchalance.”
• Studied carelessness
• Draping a throw blanket over the corner of a sofa, making it look like an artistic accident.

“Sprezzaturra:

to be cool, decisive, precise —

yes, while the barn door hits you in the face.”

— Frank O’Hara

Photo taken from stock images of the 1953 film Roman Holiday, starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.