De Chirico, Savinio e Les Italiens de Paris on at Lu.C.C.A. Museum

Pubblicato il 21 Novembre 2015 da Genni

DE CHIRICO, Cavallo e Zebra, 1929-30, 50 x 70 cm, olio su tela
On until February 14th, 2016, at the Lu.C.C.A. Museum of Lucca the exhibition: De Chirico, Savinio e Les Italiens de Paris.

DE PISIS, Hommage à Morandi, 1937, oil on canvas, 54x72cm, Diocesi di Piacenza-Bobbio

“Les Italiens de Paris” were those artists belonging to the ‘Ritorno all’Ordine’ (Return to Order) art movement that followed the First World War and who met in Paris at the beginning of 1928. They were Giorgio de Chirico, Alberto Savinio, Massimo Campigli, Filippo De Pisis, René Paresce, Gino Severini and Mario Tozzi. Taking its inspiration from traditional art, the movement rejected extreme avant-garde and was associated with a revival of classicism.

SAVINIO, Le navire perdu, 1920, oil con canvas, 82x66 cm, private collection

Each of the seven artists had different ideas and artistic styles, yet they stuck together in an artistic fellowship in the attempt to reaffirm the importance of Italian visual art. This ‘partnership’ continued until 1933, and yet during these years they were never all together in the various exhibitions of the group, and more often exhibited with other artists. Today at the Lu.C.C.A. Museum they are all reunited.

DE CHIRICO, Le Muse Inquietanti, oil con canvas, 1950 ca., 97x66 cm, Museo Palazzo Ricci, Macerata
The exhibition concludes with a tribute to Giorgio de Chirico, made in 1968 by Ezio Gribaudo, artist and personal friend of the Master of Metaphysics. Full price ticket costs 9 Euros.

Pubblicato in Art exhibitions, Art exhibitions in Tuscany, Art in Lucca, Exhibitions in Lucca, Livorno, Tuscany | Contrassegnato , , , , , , , , , | Lascia un commento

Ritual and fire with the Focarazza di Santa Caterina

Pubblicato il 17 Novembre 2015 da Genni

01 Roccalbegna
One of the most ancient fire rituals of Mount Amiata is about to be celebrated. Just south of the mountain, near Roccalbegna, is the village of Santa Caterina. Every year, on the eve of the feast day of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, which is on the 25th November, the village priest climbs a hill and blesses a bonfire which has been built around a ‘stollo‘, the pole of a haystack. A very long pole; these bonfires, in fact, are enormous.

02 The Focarazza

At the end of the religious ceremony the bonfire is lit and villagers and visitors observe the flames rise towards the sky, illuminating a countryside shrouded in darkness. When the fire loses some intensity, groups of village men enter into action, according to their quarters. Illuminated by the last tongues of fire, the participants challenge the heat and smoke in the attempt to seize the ‘stollo’, pole, in a sort of ancestral rite of purification. The pole must be carried to one of the quarters so it’s not unusual to see men covered in ash and soot, similar to Mary Poppins chimney sweepers, rushing in the streets, holding strongly to the pole, shoving rivals back and forwards, playing tricks, in an attempt to bring home the ‘holy grail’. Later the pole is cut into various parts and given to the inhabitants so that they will burn it in their fireplaces and then scatter its ashes in the fields and kitchen gardens as a propitiatory rite.

03 Focarazza 06

On the next day, the 25th, the village band plays while villagers play games and hold horse races. The ritual of the Focarezza is so important that in 1987 the village of Santa Caterina opened an ethnographic museum in which can be found both objects and tools having to do with rural and everyday life in the 19th and 20th century, as well as a section dedicated to the fire ceremony with a large collection of striking photographs. Certainly a peculiar feature of Tuscany.

04 Museo della Focarazza

Pubblicato in Culture in Tuscany, Events in Maremma, Festivals and feasts in Tuscany, Folklore in Tuscany, Maremma, Mount Amiata, Tuscan lifestyle, Tuscan towns and cities, Tuscany | Contrassegnato , , , , | Lascia un commento

Grand Ball at Palazzo Pitti

Pubblicato il 14 Novembre 2015 da Genni

01 Palazzina della Meridiana, Palazzo Pitti
Opening on November 28th in the Costume Gallery of Palazzo Pitti in Florence is “Gran Ballo a Palazzo Pitti”. The exhibition is part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Florence’s appointment as capital of the Kingdom of Italy and intends to evoke the Grand Ball held on November 28th 1865, when Florence was celebrated as new capital by the royal family, aristocrats, ambassadors, politicians and notables of the place. On display in the Ball Room will be a selection of evening gowns belonging to the years 1865-68, uniforms, accessories, dance cards and musical scores. In the ball room it will also be possible to listen to the music of that period, as well as admire the furnishings belonging to the House of Savoy.

02 The Costume Gallery

The Costume Gallery is housed in Palazzina della Meridiana of Palazzo Pitti which was built in 1776 on behalf of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. The Gallery was founded in 1983 and is considered the only museum of history of fashion in Italy thanks to its collection of six thousand clothes, from the 17th century to today, including theatrical and movie costumes. The display is renewed every 2 or 3 years, exchanging the clothes with others in depot so as to preserve their fragility. For this reason the Costume Gallery is certainly an unusual and dynamic museum.

03 The Costume Gallery

The exhibition is on until February 1st, 2016. Open from Monday to Sunday from 8.15 am to 4.30 pm.

Pubblicato in Events in Florence, Exhibitions in Florence, Florence, Tuscany | Contrassegnato , , , | Lascia un commento

Christmas events in Tuscany

Pubblicato il 7 Novembre 2015 da Genni

01

As by tradition the Christmas markets and venues have started up nearly two months before the event. Florence kicked off on October 28th with Firenze Winter Park, an enormous playground where visitors can do some ice skating, skiing, snowtubing and broomballing, or simply enjoy a delicious meal at the restaurant. The facility is on Lungarno Aldo Moro and will be open until March 6th.

02 Casa di Babbo Natale, Montecatini

Instead, today, November 7th The Christmas Town, La Città del Natale, of Montecatini, turns on its lights. Every year the spa town hosts the Little Enchanted Kingdom, Piccolo Regno Incantato, and the House of Father Christmas with elves, animation, puppets, clowns and labs for children. On until the Epiphany, January 6th.

03 Chianciano Terme

Another spa town gone ‘Father Christmas’, yesterday, is Chianciano Terme, Siena. Until December 27th, here children will not only find the House of Father Christmas but also a merry-go-round, the Polar Express, an ice skating rink, (a little off topic) the Dinosaur Park and a go-kart track.

04 Montepulciano

From November 21st to January 6th, Montepulciano is celebrating Christmas with a traditional market and the original Castle of Father Christmas. Together with a merry-go-round and a ice skating rink, Montepulciano also offers a colourful Toy Factory and a Pony Ranch with the bargain.

05

On November 29th, the medieval village of Porciano, Pistoia, is hosting its large Christmas event up in the mountains. Porciano e i sapori del Natale, ‘Porciano and its Christmas flavours’, open from 10 am to 7 pm, hosts the classical Village of Father Christmas and a Christmas market with many stalls. It will also be possible to visit the art museum and follow the ‘Christmas Crib route’ as well as tour the village by horse carriage while pipers play in the streets.

06 Borgo San Felice Weihnachtsmarkt 02

From December 2nd to 20th Piazza Santa Croce in Florence is hosting its traditional German Christmas Market, Weihnachtsmarkt, where one can buy from the wooden stalls both Christmas decorations and presents as well as typical German food items such as frankfurters, sauerkrauts, pork shanks, pretzels and more.

07 Siena

A tradition started back in the 14th century is the Mercato Nel Campo of Siena. On Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December this tradition is being held in the breathtaking Piazza del Campo with over 150 stalls decked out with Christmas handicraft items and traditional Italian cakes and sweets.

08 Abbadia San Salvatore

One of Tuscany’s oldest Christmas traditions, however, is on the mountainside of the Amiata at Abbadia San Salvatore, where, since ancient times, the population have gathered around enormous bonfires on Christmas Eve. This year the medieval village is lighting its lights up on December 5th and welcoming visitors to its Christmas market, Crib exhibition and the building of its famous bonfires. On December 19th there will also be a Father Christmas Race. Events will continue until January 6th.

09

Wherever you are in Tuscany, you’re sure to find a Christmas market somewhere, especially on the long Immaculate Conception weekend holiday on December 8th, a typical Italian tradition. Well, even if it’s too early: Happy Christmas Season!

Pubblicato in Events around Florence, Events around Siena, Events in Florence, Events in Siena, Events in Tuscany, Events in Valdichiana, Events on and around Mount Amiata, Fairs and markets in Tuscany, Florence, Mount Amiata, Siena, Tuscan lifestyle, Tuscany | Contrassegnato , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Lascia un commento

Florence, Capital City 1865–2015

Pubblicato il 4 Novembre 2015 da Genni

01 Palazzo Pitti at the beginning of the 20th century following the residency of King VEII

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Florence’s appointment as capital of the united Kingdom of Italy, the Gallery of Modern Art in Palazzo Pitti is hosting from November 19th to April 3rd, 2016, the exhibition: Firenze Capitale 1865-2015. I doni e le collezioni del Re, the King’s gifts and collections.

02 Bastianini

On show the works of art and furnishings acquired by King Victor Emmanuel II during the years he spent in Florence for his sumptuous residence, no less than Palazzo Pitti. On November 18th 1865, Parliament takes office in Palazzo Vecchio, Florence. Victor Emmanuel II and his numerous offspring take over Palazzo Pitti as new royal residence and the king not only decides to make the palace as comfortable as possible, but also a living testimony of his taste in furnishings, personally directing the subjects of the paintings and sculptures he commissions.

03 Saltini

For this reason, to celebrate the anniversary of Florence capital, the curators have decided to dedicate an exhibition to the works of art donated to the Palace by the king, so as to investigate his collecting passion. Among these masterpieces are paintings inspired by famous historical events related to the House of Savoy, such as those by Giuseppe Ciaranfi and Giuseppe Bellucci. Other works on show are the marble sculpture by Pio Fedi inspired by a Dantesque episode, Pietro Saltini’s representation of Francesco Petrarca depicting his beloved Laura, and a Michelangelo reciting his poems to Vittoria Colonna by Francesco Vinea, just to name a few.

04 Cabianca

Visitors will also find interesting the collection of the King’s daily objects such as his pipe, match holder, game cards, horse prints, silver picture frames with the Queen’s effigy. All objects which were usually placed on the late baroque furniture the King had personally ordered the Florentine woodcarvers to make following the Piedmontese and French style. As art connoisseur, Victor Emmanuel II didn’t fail to consider the results of the Macchiaioli and at the National Exhibition held in Florence in 1861 he chose the Novellieri Toscani, ‘Tuscan Storytellers’, by Vincenzo Cabianca, considered one of the first modern paintings of history. This ‘modernist taste’ was the same used by the king to furnish the halls in Palazzo Pitti.

05 Ponziani Ungarelli

The exhibition can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15 am to 6.50 pm. Closed Mondays, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day. Full price ticket costs 8,50 Euros.

Pubblicato in Art exhibitions in Tuscany, Art in Florence, Exhibitions in Florence, Exhibitions in Tuscany, Florence, Tuscany | Contrassegnato , , , , , , , , | Lascia un commento