The Paolo and Carolina Zani Foundation House Museum hosts an important cultural initiative that celebrates the connection between Rome and Brescia through an exhibition running until November 24, 2024. This project, titled “Roma Brescia Roma,” is the result of a collaboration between the Borghese Gallery and the Foundation’s House Museum, aimed at highlighting the artistic treasures of both cities.
A Synergistic Project
Conceived by Massimiliano Capella, Director of the House Museum, and Emanuela Settimi, Curator of the Ministry of Culture at the Borghese Gallery, the project features a dual exhibition that marks a significant “homecoming” for the involved artworks. From October 11 to November 24, 2024, visitors will be able to admire two masterpieces by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo at the Zani House Museum. Concurrently, two imperial busts attributed to Guglielmo and Giovanni Battista della Porta will be displayed in the Sala degli Imperatori at the Borghese Gallery.
The Works on Display
In the section dedicated to temporary exhibitions at the Zani House Museum, the Bust of a Young Man and Tobias and the Angel by Savoldo are on display. These works, coming from the Borghese Gallery, are considered among the most significant of the Brescia-born artist, known for his contributions to Renaissance painting.
The Bust of a Young Man portrays a boy whose identity remains unclear, while Tobias and the Angel depicts a biblical scene characterized by the masterful use of bright colors that create extraordinary lighting effects. As Antonio Iommelli quotes Rossana Bossaglia: “Most critics date it before 1537… revealing the artistic journey of the Brescian.”
Imperial Busts at the Borghese Gallery
In parallel with the exhibition of Savoldo’s works at the Zani House Museum, the imperial busts from the Zani Collection enhance the Sala degli Imperatori at the Borghese Gallery. These busts depict Emperor Hadrian at various stages of his life and are crafted from exquisite materials such as white marble and Turkish onyx.
The busts were presented for the first time during the conference “Marble as a Device: Matter and Surface,” held on October 10 and 11, 2024.
Collateral Events
Alongside the main exhibition, a series of talks will take place at the Auditorium of the Zani House Museum. Among the scheduled events:
- October 19: “Giovanni Gerolamo Savoldo: The Story of a Protagonist of Brescian Renaissance” – Fiorella Frisoni.
- October 26: “Magnificent Elegance: Italian Fashion Illustrated [also] by Savoldo” – Massimiliano Capella.
- November 9: “Savoldo between Sacred and Profane” – Angelo Loda.
- November 16: “Rome-Brescia-Rome (From Borghese Gallery to Zani House Museum)” – Emanuela Settimi.
The Paolo and Carolina Zani Foundation continues to play a vital role in the preservation and enhancement of Italy’s artistic heritage through the conservation of over a thousand works in the museum, including paintings by masters such as Canaletto and Tiepolo.
Italian Version
