More than 60 artworks from around the world to celebrate the immortal character of classical myth
Until September 8th, Palazzo Medici Riccardi will host the exhibition The Enchantment of Orpheus in the Art of All Times: From Titian to the Contemporary: over 60 works of art dedicated to one of the most important and immortal figures of classical myth.
On display are paintings and sculptures, drawings and manuscripts, installations, and films, spanning from antiquity to the present day. The exhibition includes a rich selection of masterpieces from various periods, starting from the beautiful painting by Gerrit van Honthorst, to the splendid works of Parmigianino, Bruegel the Elder, Rembrandt, and Titian. There are also works by Delacroix, Moreau, Redon, Savinio, Melotti, Twombly, and Paladino, loaned from prestigious Italian and international cultural institutions.
The exhibition revolves around the complex figure of Orpheus, poet and musician, the companion of the Argonauts, the unhappy and then desperate husband of Euridice. Orpheus is the one who receives the lyre from the god Apollo and who journeys through the underworld to the presence of Hades, the king of the underworld, and Persephone, playing for them in order to be granted the chance to bring his wife back to life.
Precious manuscripts, musical scores (such as the one for the opera Euridice, composed by Jacopo Peri and Giulio Caccini), and objects from the world of theater, such as stage designs and masks from artists who collaborated with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, are also displayed alongside the figurative works, well represented by magnificent creations by Giorgio De Chirico.The figure of Orpheus also greatly fascinated Jean Cocteau, who dedicated two films to him, Orpheus in 1950 and The Testament of Orpheus in 1959, and Igor Stravinsky, who composed the poignant Orpheus in 1947, accompanied by the choreographer George Balanchine.
The exhibition is completed by the volume edited by Silvana Editoriale, featuring essays by the curators and specialist authors in various disciplines, ranging from myth to art and literature, to music, philosophy, cinema, and theater.
Until September 8, 2024
Via Cavour, 3 – Firenze
Opening hours: Everyday 9am-7pm – Closed on Wednesday
Ticket: €15 – €10
