Art Escapes experience.
Caravaggio in Genoa
Caravaggio’s Flight into Egypt opens the art exhibition in Genoa’s Villa del Principe.
Those planning a trip to Genoa over the next few months should make sure they visit the city's largest and most sumptuous patrician residence, the magnificent Villa del Principe. The interiors and gardens of this celebrated sea front palace, built for the legendary admiral, Andrea Doria, in 1529, have been recently completely restored. Until 26th September 2010 the villa's rooms will house "Caravaggio and the art of escape. Landscape painting in the Villa Doria Pamohili", an exhibition of circa 80 paintings originating from the various properties of the noble Doria Pamphili family.
Admiral Andrea Doria wanted his palazzo to resemble a luxurious urban palace, where he would be able to relax between his long voyages. The resulting Villa del Principe became the seat of a Renaissance style court, frequented by artists such as Perino del Vaga, who was responsible for many of the artworks which adorn the villa's halls. During its period of maximum splendor, Andrea Doria's successor asked Caravaggio to paint a loggia in exchange for a large sum of money, a generous offer which the artist promptly refused. The Doria Pamphili dynasty, which was of mixed origin from Genoa and Rome, was one of the most important art collectors of the time. Members of the dynasty filled their stunning out-of-town villas with an incredible number of artworks, including the landscape paintings in this exhibition.
Caravaggio's masterpiece, "Flight into Egypt", was once housed in the Doria family's Villa del Bel Respiro in Rome and is the only known work by the artist to depict such a large landscape. The exhibition opens with a series of paintings from the Villa Centurione Doria di Pegli and includes 17th century works by Momper, Grimaldi, Anesi, Van Bloemen and other artists who were responsible for the embellishment of the Villa del Bel Respiro, the Villa di Ripa Grande at Travestere, the Casino of Anzio and the Palazzo Nettuno.
The visit to the Villa del Principe combines the chance to see a fabulous collection of artworks, some of which are on public display for the first time, with a tour of the villa's recently restored interiors, an opportunity to walk through rooms featuring exquisite tapestries, frescoes, stuccoes, antique furniture and loggias, all with splendid views out over the Bay of Genoa. The perfect complement to the building's Renaissance architecture, the villa's formal gardens were designed to greet Andrea Doria on his return from his expeditions with a magnificent display of fountains, pergolas, colonnades and statues. To make the experience all the more unforgettable, visitors can choose to reach the exhibition site aboard the Argo Frigate, a stunning reconstruction of a 16th century sailing ship, which transports visitors from Genoa's Antico Porto direct to Villa del Principe.
Caravaggio and the art of escape. Landscape painting in the Villa Doria Pamphili
Villa del Principe
Piazza del Principe, 4
Genova
Tel +39 010 255509
www.dopart.it
From March 26th to September 26th 2010
From 10:00 to 17:00 - Closed on Thursdays
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