The art of wonder from Tiepolo to Manzù
1 December 2018 – 24 February 2019
Bergamo Palazzo Polli Stoppani,
via San Giacomo 9
November 30 – The exhibition “The enchantment unveiled. The art of wonder from Tiepolo to Manzù” was inaugurated today in the setting of the sixteenth century Palazzo Polli Stoppani. The exhibition, with over seventy works from the 14th to the 20th century, was promoted by the Cariplo Foundation and the Bergamo Community Foundation, with the support of the Pesenti Foundation.
Works by Giambattista Tiepolo, Evaristo Baschenis, Giacomo Manzù, Guglielmo Ciardi, Agostino Carracci, Luca Carlevarijs, Eleuterio Pagliano, Giacomo Ceruti, accompany the visitor on an evocative and fascinating journey from the 14th century to the contemporary period.
The exhibition’s theme is “Wonder”, as an amazing and inspirational discovery of the world ranging from scientific knowledge—told through myth, portraits and the cabinets of curiosities where scientists and princes gathered notable collections of objects since the Renaissance—to the 18th and 19th century Landscape Art, as a window on the world displaying to the enchanted gaze of the visitors.
The exhibition—curated by art historian Elena Lissoni and Lucia Molino, Director of the Cariplo Foundation Collection—reveals the variety, richness and quality of the art collections of the Cariplo Foundation, various galleries of Bergamo—Accademia Carrara, Accademia Tadini (Lovere), Polli Stoppani Foundation, Banco BPM Group, “Paolo Sarpi” Grammar School, Giovanni XXIII Episcopal Seminary—and prestigious private collections. A journey made all the more amazing by one of the ten masterpieces from the ” Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro of Naples”. presence of one of the ten wonders of the of San Gennaro in Naples: a large cross made from silver and studded with red coral enchanting with its preciousness.
The exhibition promoted by the Cariplo Foundation, the Bergamo Community Foundation, with the sponsorship and collaboration of the Lombardy Region, the Province, the Municipality of Bergamo and the Regional Education Office, is the seventh stage of the Open Tour, which is showcasing the artistic heritage of the Cariplo Foundation throughout Lombardy, in the provinces of Novara and Verbano Cusio Ossola.
Photo Courtesy www.artgate-cariplo.it
POLLI STOPPANI PALACE
The exhibition presented the opportunity to open up the Polli Stoppani Palace, an historic building located in the heart of the Upper Town. Built around the 16th century from a design by Pietro Isabello (≈ 1484 – 1549), it was renovated in the 17th century, when the frescoes by Domenico Ghislandi from Bergamo were Painted.
Built directly on the rock of the Upper Town, the building is arranged on three sides around a beautiful Renaissance courtyard and has direct access to a water source. The water supply permitted the construction of two fountains: the one known as the Fountain of St. James is installed outside, while the other is placed inside, under a large stone arch. This fascinating water system is accompanied by the caption “What a good thing is water” linking the building to the spirit of the place forever.
Following an accurate restoration, completed in 2018, the rooms on the second floor are currently used as an exhibition space, while the first floor houses the Polli Stoppani Foundation, established by Vittorio Polli and Anna Maria Stoppani, with the aim of carrying on over time, in their memory, the charity and social activities they had dedicated their whole life to.
THE WONDER OF SAN GENNARO’S TREASURE
The San Gennaro’s Treasure Museum in Naples boasts a unique artistic and cultural heritage, featuring masterpieces of inestimable value and beauty—jewels, paintings, sculptures, statues, silver furnishings and fabrics. The treasure, which consists of an extraordinary collection of 21,720 works, was donated by kings, emperors, popes, aristocrats over 700 years. The Wonder of San Gennaro’s Treasure comprises ten masterwork items including a precious necklace composed by 13 gold links with diamonds, emeralds and rubies, a miter adorned with 3694 precious stones dating back to 1713, a gold chalice donated by Pope Pius IX.
A star work of “The Enchantment Unveiled” exhibition will actually be one of the Ten Wonders of the San Gennaro’s Treasure: a superb cross made from chiseled silver and studded with red coral, dating back to 1707 and donated by Spera family.
www.fondazionebergamo.it | Press release OPENING | Press release GENERAL
www.artgate-cariplo.it | www.fondazionepollistoppani.it
