The Uffizi Gallery is presenting a new exhibition, dedicated to the evolution and trends in Neapolitan art in the 17th century, based on a selection of 38 works from the famous Medici collections, thus retracing and bringing back to life a major chapter in the history of Italian art. The 17th century was a good time for the Neapolitan artists. It was during this time that some of the best journeyed and stayed in Florence for varied periods of time, such as Battistello Caracciolo 1617-1618, Salvator Rosa 1640-1648 or Luca Giordano 1682, 1685-1686. Each of them - and many more others - was considered a master and model for the younger artists and a real example of the principles and style of Neapolitean art, and their stay in Florence was profitable for the future generations. During those years the artists worked here, leaving behind a great number of works, most of them being bought by the Medici for their laready famous collections or by other aristocrats in the city.
The show tries to examine both the importance that this stay had in the artist's career, as well as the role played by the Medici family (and other noble families), who supported and encouraged the painters, commisioning many numbers, which later found their way into impressive collections. How many of these are in the Florentine galleries, how did they get there, what are their stories ? These are questions that are yet to find their answers, for so far nobody has made a thorough analysis. This exhibition hosted by the Uffizi Gallery presents a selection of Neapolitan art works from the 17th century, organised in several thematical sections :
1. The Caravaggism of Battistello Caracciolo and Jusepe de Ribera
2. Nature and philosophy in Salvator Rosa
3. The Baroque of Luca Giordano
4. Neapolitan genre painting
5. Between mythology and ancient history: two Medici paintings rediscovered
6. Massimo Stanzione for Florence
The works selected for the show range from self-portraits to genre scenes, landscapes, battle scenes, still lifes, religious compositions, showing an impressive diversity and quality, proving that the artists of that century were truly great masters.
2007-09-25
