Art

The Medici Chapels, located in the majestic church of San Lorenzo in Florence, are a sanctuary of invaluable artworks and historical testimonies. Among these treasures lies the Tomb of Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino (1492-1519), nephew of the famous Pope Leo X (1475-1521).Crafted by the genius of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) in the final years of his stay in Florence, the tomb celebrates Lorenzo de’ Medici, the only son of Piero “the Unfortunate” de’ Medici and Alfonsina Orsini. Lorenzo, lord of Florence and the first and only Duke of Urbino from his dynasty, was a handsome, witty, and cultured man but lacked…

There are places that, hidden from the majority, whisper forgotten stories, remnants of a past that reveal themselves only to those fortunate enough to discover them. These hidden corners, though not celebrated in the annals of art, encapsulate the essence of past lives, narrating tales that deserve our attention just as much as the more famous works.One such place I captured several years ago: the Church of the Immaculate Conception, situated in the ancient heart of Vercelli, my city. This 18th-century building, adjacent to the old Poor House, once a refuge for children and youths from struggling families, shines with…

The birth and realization of the majestic dome of Florence's Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, represent one of the most fascinating and revolutionary moments in the history of architecture. The creation of this monumental structure required the invention of new construction techniques essential to overcome the challenges posed by its immense size.The Challenge of the Drum and Brunelleschi's IngenuityThe drum, the architectural element at the base of the dome, stands as a colossus that needs robust support to bear the weight of the structure above. The large openings, designed to let divine light into the cathedral, posed an additional obstacle…

Visiting the Medici Chapels adjacent to the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence is an experience full of unexpected discoveries. Among the marvels one expects to admire are the tombs of Giuliano and Lorenzo de’ Medici, masterfully crafted by Michelangelo in the "New Sacristy." This is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and sculpture. Additionally, one anticipates entering the opulent Chapel of the Princes, an octagonal space topped by a dome reaching a height of 59 meters, the second grandest in the city after Brunelleschi's.A Treasure of ReliquariesHowever, what visitors seldom expect to find in the crypt is a treasure of…

The temporary exhibition at Gallerie d’Italia in Milan offers a captivating immersion into the work of Alighiero Boetti, one of the most influential and innovative conceptual artists of the twentieth century. Masterfully curated by Luca Massimo Barbero, this exhibition features a significant selection of works from the Luigi and Peppino Agrati collection, two patrons who recognized and celebrated Boetti's genius.Born in Turin in 1940 and passing prematurely in Rome in 1994, Alighiero Boetti dedicated his life to exploring the limits and possibilities of conceptual art. The Milanese exhibition traces this relentless search through a setup that reflects the variety of…

Recently, I had the pleasure of immersing myself in the exhibition dedicated to Felice Carena, hosted in the elegant halls of Gallerie d’Italia in Milan, part of the Intesa Sanpaolo group. This exhibition venue is renowned for the impeccable quality of its shows, which combine high artistic and historical interest with meticulous and refined setups.Felice Carena, born in Turin in 1879, began his artistic training at the Accademia Albertina, where he studied figure drawing with Giacomo Grosso and painting with Lorenzo Delleani. Carena's early works reflect the influence of Grosso's realism, with meticulous attention to detail and a vivid representation…

It was a bright day, one of those where the air seems to shimmer with a special kind of magic, when my mother took me to Museo Leone in Vercelli for the first time. I was six, maybe seven years old, and I still vividly remember the excited heartbeat as we crossed the threshold of that seemingly enchanted place.Today, decades later, I stand once again before that discreet, studded door that had captivated me as a child. My now more mature heart beats with the same enthusiasm as back then. I cross the threshold, immediately enveloped by a sense of…

As I made my way to an appointment at the "Parlamentino" located in Palazzo Pasta, I found myself with some time to spare and decided to visit the nearby Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, drawn by its history and the promise of revealing centuries-old secrets through its architecture. Upon entering, I was greeted by the unmistakable scent of ancient stone, a mix of dampness and incense that enveloped me like an invisible cloak.My gaze was immediately drawn to the holy water font at the entrance. Its surface was smooth, polished by the countless hands of devotees who, over the centuries,…

In the historic center of Florence, within the venerable walls of the Bargello Museum, lies a priceless treasure of art: Andrea del Verrocchio's "Resurrection of Christ." This emblematic work of the Italian Renaissance continues to be a masterpiece, despite its less-than-ideal state of preservation. Its absence from the exhibition "Verrocchio, Master of Leonardo" at Palazzo Strozzi, which concluded on July 14, 2019, was a significant loss for art lovers and scholars.The risk associated with transporting the work, given its fragility, made the decision not to move it a wise yet painful one. It's impossible not to think of the fate…

In a quiet room of the Museo Leone in Vercelli, known as the "Sala delle Cinquecentine," an intimate dialogue unfolds not between people, but between guitars and observers. This is the exhibition "The Singing Wood," where artisanal craftsmanship meets personal history. Of the twenty-six guitars on display, six come from the personal collection of the renowned Maestro Angelo Gilardino, known not only for his compositions but also for his research on instruments capable of translating the poetry of his musical visions into sound.The remaining twenty guitars, kindly loaned by passionate collectors like Lorenzo Frignani, custodian of the Gilardino Collection, and…