STONE ART AT THE BORGHESE ROME

STONE ART AT THE BORGHESE ROME

The art of painting on stone, rather than on canvas or wood, is the theme of the exhibition currently running at the Villa Borghese Gallery, Rome. “Meraviglia Senza Tempo. Pittura su Pietra a Roma nel Seicento” (Timeless Marvels. Painting on Stone in Rome in the '600) highlights a branch of art that has been largely underestimated and ignored.

Inaugurated on the 25th October and running till the 29th January 2023, visitors have the rare opportunity to view 60 exquisite art-on-stone works from both Italian and foreign museums as well as private collections, by artists of the calibre of Antonio Tempesta, Antonio Carracci, Carlo Saracena, Orazio Gentileschi, Cavalier d'Arpino, Leonardo Grazia and others.

Many of the pieces were part of the 17th century collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, grand patron of the arts and protector of Bernini and Caravaggio.

The idea of painting on a hard base, less subject to damage or destruction, is believed to have been launched by Sebastiano del Piombo after a great many of his paintings were ruined during the havoc of the Sack of Rome by the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1527.

The fashion soon caught on when artists realised the additional benefits of the special effects they could obtain by using bases of slate, coloured marble, hard polished surfaces, precious blue lapis lazuli and other gem stones to create particular backgrounds and atmospheres.

Info: Tel. +39.06.67233753 www.galleriaborghese:beniculturali.it

ga-bor-info@cultura.gov.it

 

Posted on 26 Oct 2022 by Editor
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