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Since Italy has over half of the artistic masterpieces in the world, you probably already
have a list a mile long of "must-see" artistic treasures. But sometimes there are special shows
that are just as unique and unrepeatable, so we hope you can fit one or more of them in!
Heaven
on Earth. Medieval Gardens at the Rocca Borromeo (through October 19, 2008 at Rocca
Borromeo on Lake Maggiore, open daily 9am-5:30pm). This delightful exhibit inaugurates Princess Bona Borromeo's
plan to turn her family's spectacular lakefront castle into a bona fide center for medieval studies. Setting
herself a goal never before achieved in Italy -- to recreate an authetic replica of the Middle Ages in one
of its original settings -- she gets the ball rolling with this wonderful collection of medieval garden scenes.
A great excuse to visit the austere and imposing castle that dominates the southern shore of Lake Maggiore.
Antonio Ligabue, The Difficult Art of a Painter Without Rules (through
October 26, 2008 at Palazzo Reale, Piazza Duomo 12, Milan; open Mondays 2:30-7:30pm; Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-7:30pm;
Thursdays 9:30am-10:30pm). The delightful if enigmatic artist of Swiss origins, often compared to Van Gogh,
is represented here by some 240 of his works, of which more than 200 are oil paintings, designs and sculptures.
There is also an extraordinary documentary film shot by Raffaele Andreassi, in which Ligabue himself shows
all of his vulnerability and the drama with which he lived life. The intense desire and freedom of expression
that only painting could give him is the central theme of the exhibition, a declaration that the art of Ligabue
goes beyond the label of Fauvist art, Expressionism or Surrealism.
Rembrandt
and the Masterpieces of European Graphic Work in the Collection of Buonconsiglio Castle (through
November 2, 2008 at Castello Buonconsiglio, Trento, open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm). Set in a picturesque castle,
the museum possesses an extraordinary collection of over 1000 artistic prints. This show presents a significant
part of this vast collection, centered on works by Rembrandt. A tireless experimenter and careful investigator
of the human soul, Rembrandt is one of the most important Dutch masters, already acclaimed by his. The exhibition
shows his mastery not only through his own etchings, but also in comparison to other Flemish, Dutch and Italian
masters who were working during those same years, as well as artists who interpreted Rembrandt’s paintings
in prints, and others who copied his prints, even on request by refined collectors. For more details, click
here.
Etruscans, The Ancient Cities of Latium (through January 6, 2009 at Palazzo delle Esposizioni,
Via Nazionale 194, Rome, open Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday 10am-10pm; Friday-Saturday 10am-11:30pm). Everyone
seems to be fascinated by the elusive Etruscans. This show promises to be one of the most enlightening in
many years. By bringing together artifacts from all four of its major cities in what is today the region of
Latium (Vulci, Tarquinia, Veii and Cerveteri), it sheds light on how this culture interacted with and was
finally doomed by ancient Rome.
Palladio,
500 Years (through January 6, 2009 at Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, Contra’ Porti
11, Vicenza, open Sunday-Thursday 9am-7pm; Friday-Saturday 9:30am-9pm). Arranged in ten rooms, thus occupying
the whole the piano nobile of the Palazzo Barbaran da Porto, the only the urban residence which Palladio
completed entirely as intended, this exhibit features over 200 original works including autographed drawings,
paintings, books, manuscripts, maps, bronze statuettes, coins and a large number of architectural models.
These are the ‘stills’ from the film recounting the life and work of Palladio, whose architectural
career began in the second half of the 1530s and ended in 1580. Thanks to the exceptional quality and variety
of the original works on show, further illustrated by specially created models, video films and animations,
the exhibit presents a fascinating, all-round and essentially new synthesis of what is known about Palladio’s
life, architecture and influence.
Rome and Egypt: From History to Myth (through November 9, 2008 at Castel Sant'Angelo,
Lungotevere 50, Rome, open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-7pm). The close ties between the Roman and Egyptian empires
are evident everywhere in the Eternal City: from the 13 obelisks to the
stone lions guarding the Campidoglio (site of the world's first senate) to the Cestian Pyramid (where Caius
Cestius is buried) and the countless small relics you'll find gracing walls and sidewalks all over town. This
exhibit includes works dating as far back as 2700 BC, and shows how the arts of the Pharoahs influenced one
of Europe's greatest cultures from 100 BC through the Middle Ages.
Correggio (through
January 25, 2009 at Palazzo della Pilotta, Camera di San Paolo Cathedral and Church of S. Giovanni Evangelista
in Parma, the first two open daily 9:30am-7:30pm; Cathedral 9:30am-6:30pm; S. Giovanni Evangelista Monday-Saturday
9:30am-6pm and Sunday 1:15-6pm). If you’re planning
to travel from Rome or Florence to Milan or Venice, this exhibition offers a compelling reason to stop off
along the way in Parma. One of Italy’s most poignant masters, Correggio painted mostly frescoes and
so there are rarely any retrospectives of his work. But now for the first time you can see every “movable” work
painted by this 16 th-century artist. On top of that, your ticket includes a visit to his three masterpieces,
all located within a short walk from the museum. These are the sumptuous frescoes on the domes of the cathedral
and the church of San Giovanni Evangelista, and the sublime Chambers of the Abbess in San Paolo. Making this
opportunity even more exciting are the scaffoldings specially erected to get viewers right up close to the
dome paintings. We highly recommend it, and if you need a place to stay nearby, click
here.
Our list is anything but complete: if you know of other exhibitions or events you think people should hear about, please drop us a line.