o f t h e pa r t y
Venetian Masters with Italian Amb. Giovanni and wife Lila Castellaneta Reception on June 13th Opening, Luncheon and Dinner on June 14th Villa Firenze, National Gallery of Art and Teatro Goldoni Photos by Russell Hirshon, Kyle Samperton and paul simkin
Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife Lila hosted the first few of a series of events to celebrate the opening of the Venetian Masters exhibit at the National Gallery, highlighting the works of Bellini, Giorgione and Titian, began with a cozy reception for major donors at the residence of Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta. The next morning, First Lady Laura Bush visited the exhibition accompanied by Gallery Director Rusty Powell, Lila Castellaneta and Diana Bracco, chairman and CEO of Bracco Group, which sponsored the exhibit. Mrs. Castellaneta also hosted a lunch with the First Lady as the guest of honor at Villa Firenze. Gallery trustees hosted a special black-tie reception and preview that evening for special guests, including Russian Amb. Yury Ushakov and his wife Svetlana; Justices Samuel Alito, Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Sens. John Warner and Patrick Leahy; Chief of Protocol Donald Ensenat; and Lucio Caputo, president of the Italian Wine and Food Institute. Later that night at Teatro Goldoni Chef Fabrizio Aielli prepared a dinner to raise funds for Save Venice’s efforts to preserve that city’s unique culture.
Maureen and Justice Antonin Scalia
34
Kathy Card and Anne Johnson
Lila Castellaneta and First Lady Laura Bush
Luma Kawar, Cindy Giambiastiani and Debbie Dingell
Nancy Brinker and Betty Sembler
Barbara Harrison, Suzanne Nicholson and Buffy Cafritz
Anita McBride and Mary Ourisman
Armando Varricchio, head of economic and scientific affairs, Amb. Castellaneta and First Counselor Luca Ferrari, head of the press office
Justice Samuel Alito and Diana Bracco
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| Summer
2006
| washingtonlife.com