Venice:
Fondazione Prada – Portable Classic exhibition.
The exhibition ‘Portable Classic’ at the Fondazione Prada, until
September 13, is co-curated by Salvatore Settis and Davide Gasparotto, it explores
the origins and functions of miniature reproductions of classical sculptures, showcasing
more than 80 artworks. Both in ancient Rome and modern Europe a true ‘canon’ of
sculptures was created, considered as an undisputed peak of excellence of a
given subject. Their prestige was so high that, since it was almost impossible
to acquire the originals, their reproductions, even on a small scale, were
eagerly sought for by well-read audiences. An example of this is the ‘Farnese
Hercules’, displayed in a 317 cm high plaster cast exhibited next to a series
of modern smaller-scale reproductions in marble, bronze and terracotta,
measuring 15 to 130 cm.
Above.
Manifattura Ginori di Doccia – Farnese Hercules – c. 1800; painted and gilded
porcelain.
Lars
Muller, Giulia and Tonchi Foscari
Astrid
Welter
Giulio
Bono and Ritsue Mishima
Fondazione
Prada – Portable Classic – 3 works by Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi called Antico
Belvedere
Apollo – c.1490; bronze, partially gilded – Marcus Aurelius – 1519-1528; gilded
bronze – Venus Felix – c.1510; bronze partly gilded, silver inlays
Claude
Cousseau, Giulio Sangiuliano Ombline d’Avezac, Fabrice Hergott and Carla
Sozzani
Catherine
Orentreich
Paola
Manfrin, Marco Voena and Umberta Gnutti Beretta
Jacopo
Jarach with Antonio Chichi – Arch of the Argentarii (“Arch of Septimius Severus”)
– 1783-1788
Darrell
Vydelingum and Justin Simons
Cesare
Cunaccia with Barberini Faun Plaster
Luisa
Beccaria and Aud Cuniberti
Fondazione
Prada – Portable Classic – Bernardino Licinio -
Sculptor
and His Pupils – c. 1533 – oil on canvas
Vika
Gazinskaya and Maria Baibakova
Claudio
Guenzani and Valentina Donnini
Francesca
Malerba and Luca Stefanutti
Luca
Bombassei, Roberta Galfione Lomo and Elio Messi
Laura
Cocchis and Franca Goppion
Diana
Muller