The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, Japan, is the host of a fabulous and unusual (for the Asian world) exhibition, dedicated to the art created in the Italian city of Parma in the 16th - 17th century. "Parma: Italian Arts from Another Capital City" is one of the few events dedicated to Italian art opened in Japan and it offers the chance for visitors to explore the richness and beauty of Parma's art.
 | The show starts in the Renaissance period, with works by great masters like Correggio or Parimigianino, who have forever changed the face of art world, moving on to the Baroque manner painters, who beneficiated from the patronage of the Farnese family, a rich protector of arts. The curators have chosen works that not only create a rich and complex image of Italian art, themes and subjects in that region and timeframe, but also explain the background of the masters that worked in Parma, by whom were they influenced, which were their favourite subjects and who they influenced in their turn. |
The exhibition is divided in several chronological sections. The first presents the art of Parma in the 15th - 16th century, showcasing the creations of several regional artists, who moved to the Italian city, and details how their origins influenced their styles, techniques and subjecst. The second one depicts the huge influence and popularity that Correggio and Parmigianino had in their time, shaping the art world in Parma, while the third is dedicated to the protectorate and support that the Farnese Dukes gave to the artists.
Continuing their visit, art lovers will discover another section, " Pictures of the Sacred and Profane - The Triumph of Mannerism", which focuses on the influence and force of the unique form of art, which developped rapidly in Parma. The next section narate the transition to Baroque - with the works of Carracci or Schedoni, famous family of painters - and the final one is dedicated solely to drawings and prints, with a splendid selection of the Parma school of draftsmen.
It is without a doubt one of the best exhibitions ever hosted by the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, as it presents the charm and art history of one of the most important Italian cities. A cultural centre of major importance, Parma fascinated artists for century, as well as writers and musicians. The curators have chosen around 100 works, which introduce the art of Parma to the Japanese audience.
Photo : nmwa.go.jp
June 2007
