Tuscany&art
The graces of Desiderio da Settignano La Grazia di Desiderio da Settignano Die Anmut von Desiderio da Settignano by Miria Fondelli
T
he Bargello, in collaboration with the
Louvre and National Gallery of Washington, has wanted the first exhibition dedicated to Desiderio da Settignano. He started to work in a particularly flourishing period in the field of sculptures in Florence. At the time of the “Sweet Style”, Desiderio continued the heritage left by Donatello when the latter left Florence in 1443 and went to Padua. Although Desiderio da Settignano had died very young, when he was just 35, his work is expressive of the Florentine style of the 50s and 60 of 1400, when a new generation of sculptors appeared in Florence expressing the formal language of the Renaissance. Desiderio managed to be characteristic of that his very particular “sweet style” combining the material – especially marble – and the sweetness of his figures and expressions. Like Donatello, and perhaps
Desiderio da Settignano Museo Nazionale del Bargello Via del Proconsolo, 4 – Firenze until 3 June 2007 www.desideriodasettignano2007.it Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays of a month 8,15 – 18,00. Closed on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of a month and on May the 1st. Ticket: 7 € (including the admission to the Museum); reduced ticket 3.50 € for 18-25 year old citizen of the European Union. Free for European Union citizens under 18 and over 65 Information and reservations: tel. 055 2654321
even more, Desiderio da Settignano hit an almost unique level in the marble processing, and in particular the “stiacciato” relief. The Bargello, luckily, has several works of art of his autograph production, necessarily small since his early death, amid which the famous statue of “San Giovannino Martelli” which, according to latest studies, is the result of the collaboration with Donatello and the proof of their artistic bond, as also attested by Vasari. The works in the Bargello, along with those in the Louvre, have made possible the first monographic exhibition dedicated to this artist known for some “genres” in which he stood up among his contemporaries. The subheading of the exhibition, “discovering the grace in the Renaissance sculpture”, highlights what his works reveal, the looks of children and the looks between mother and son in his Madonnas. The Florentine exhibition, following the very successful one of the Louvre, offers the chance to know and appreciate better the artist, to compare his works, to appreciate his style, technique, and also the famous genres his workshop
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