Rinascimento sul Garda
from an idea by Marco Tanzi shared by Vittorio Sgarbi
Curated by Luca Gabrielli,Giuseppe Sava, Luca Siracusano and Marco Tanzi
Renaissance on Lake Garda, the exhibition puts the general public's spotlight on the lake's flourishing artistic interaction during the 15th and 16th centuries, a period in which the Benaco became a crossroads for trade and a fertile ground for encounters and cultural exchanges, thus fostering a lively sharing of models, ideas and artistic experiences and creating a fruitful dialogue between the northern world and the centres of Brescia, Verona and Mantua.
The exhibition is a real invitation to embark on a fascinating journey to discover the masterpieces that have made this region a creative hub of unparalleled beauty. From sculpture to painting, from goldsmithing to textile art, each work on display tells a story, reveals a technique, bears witness to the ingenuity and mastery of these artists. But the exhibition is not limited to presenting works of art of exceptional value. It is also an opportunity to delve into the history and culture of the Lake Garda area, to grasp the nuances of an era rich in ferment and transformation.
In this exhibition, Lake Garda reveals itself as a silent witness to centuries of history. Since antiquity, its waters have represented an important communication route, fostering trade and dialogue between different cultures. And it was from this crossroads of peoples and ideas that an era of extraordinary artistic flowering came into being: the Renaissance. Because of the themes addressed and the quality of the objects presented, the exhibition aspires to be a major event capable of capturing the interest not only of enthusiasts, but also of the local community and the tourist public.
The aim of the initiative is to focus on the figurative context between the 15th and 16th century in the Upper Garda area. If the focus is mainly on the Trentino area, the intense social and cultural permeability favoured by the lake implies a much broader horizon, ready to re-establish occasions and motifs that placed Riva and Arco in dialogue with Brescia, Verona and the Mantuan area, but also with the world of the North. This in-depth research has led to a meticulous reconnaissance of little-known paintings and sculptures in Malcesine, Nago-Torbole, Massone, Ceole, Condino, Brione, Ville del Monte di Tenno, Tiarno di Sotto, and Mavignola, from village to village, documenting on the Trentino side the flourishing Renaissance season experienced on the shores of the lake.
This compelling narrative, investigated from different angles, is articulated through the works of artists such as Zenone Veronese, Giovan Francesco Caroto, Giovanni Demio, Pietro Bussolo, Stefano Lamberti and Maffeo Olivieri. In order to combine the study perspective with exhibition and popularisation needs, the exhibition is divided into five sections, each housed in a dedicated room.