Florence’s Museo Novecento hosts a modern art exhibition focused on Modigliani until 15 September.
Museo Novecento’s exhibition Returns. From Modigliani to Morandi, which will be on display until 15 September, offers a refreshing experience of art from the majority of pieces and statues from Renaissance and Baroque periods on display around Florence. The pieces, dating anywhere from the 19th to mid 20th century, adorn the Museo Novecento’s walls for its ten year anniversary since they opened their doors to the public.
Courtesy MAC USP Collection
[Museu de Arte Contemporânea da USP Collection, São Paulo,Brazil]
The exhibition, which features notable Italian artists from contemporary and futuristic movements such as Renato Birolli, Morandi, Guttuso and Carlo Carrà, highlights the artist Amedeo Modigliani, and his complex life is embodied in his only self portrait from 1919, which hasn’t been in Italy since 1946. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of São Paolo, Brazil has displayed this piece since then, but donated it to the Museo Novecento to commemorate Modigliani’s legacy and impact on Italian art.
As co-curator of the exhibition Chiara Toti explains:
The works all once belonged to Alberto Della Ragione, a refined collector who, in 1930, was one of the first to dedicated himself to the purchase of modern artworks, contributing to the renewal of tastes in Italy, that were still stuck in 19th century painting.
Clearly, this modernism is seen in Modigliani’s self portrait. The blank facial expression and harrowing eyes, a custom of his unique style, effuse an entirely different mood than the intentional passion of renaissance figures. The portrait, painted approximately one year before his tragic death of tuberculosis as a result of drug and alcohol abuse at the age of 35, foreshadows his melancholy energy and demise.
Despite the morbid meaning behind the self portrait, Modigliani and his peers revolutionized Italian art, progressing its themes into uncharted territory and influencing the future of Italy’s culture.
Until 15 September 2024
Museo Novecento
Opening times: Everyday 11am – 8pm
Tickets: €4.50-€9.50
