Power Point Presentation by Stefano Casciu and Davide Gasparotto
On the occasion of the exhibition, “Velázquez's Portrait of Francesco I d'Este, A Masterpiece from the Galleria Estense, Modena”, presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (April 16-July 14, 2013), Stefano Casciu, Superintendent of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and Davide Gasparotto, director of the Galleria Estense, Modena, will speak about the damages caused by the May 2012 earthquake to the artistic heritage of Modena and the importance of the collections of the Galleria Estense.
About the Galleria Estense:
The Galleria Estense, one of the most prestigious museums in Italy, owes its depth and breadth to centuries of collecting by the famous Este family. Originally the rulers of Ferrara, they moved their capital to nearby Modena in 1598, transforming a medieval complex into a new ducal palace in which they displayed their collections. The family’s holdings were particularly enriched by a bequest from Cardinal Alessandro d’Este in 1624 and through the energy and ambition of Duke Francesco I d’Este, who reigned from 1629 to 1658. Francesco did not hesitate to claim important altarpieces from numerous churches for the collection, and he acquired two portraits of himself – that by Diego Velázquez exhibited now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a marvelous marble bust by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Today, the Galleria Estense is rich in paintings from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century, with outstanding works by Cosmè Tura, Correggio, Dosso Dossi, Annibale Carracci, Guercino, Guido Reni, Veronese, Tintoretto, Bassano, and El Greco. Among its sculptural holdings are terracotta masterpieces by the local Renaissance sculptor Antonio Begarelli. The gallery is also home to a significant number of drawings and prints, an important group of decorative arts and musical instruments, archaeological material, and one of the most notable collections of coins and medals in the world.
Having sustained significant damage in the 2012 earthquake, the Galleria Estense is currently closed to the public while work to repair the museum and secure its collections is ongoing.
Among the most distinctive portraits by Diego Velázquez is one he painted of Francesco I d'Este (1610–58), the Duke of Modena, during the duke's visit to Madrid in 1638 to secure the support of Philip IV. The painting was acquired by the Galleria Estense in 1843.
Refreshments To Follow
Thursday, April 18th, 6:30pm
Italian American Museum
155 Mulberry Street
(Corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets)
New York, NY 10013
Suggested donation of $10 per person
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09:35 14/04/2013
