Blog

May
01
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
Celebrating Labor Day: The Art and History of Social Justice

Celebrating Labor Day: The Art and History of Social Justice

Art, Society
Pellizza da Volpedo: Il Quarto Stato (1901, Museo del Novecento, Milano) On May 1st, we not only celebrate a holiday but also honor a powerful symbol of social achievements and workers' rights, evoking vivid images like Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo’s painting "The Fourth Estate." This masterpiece has become an icon of the fight for social justice and social painting, a term rooted in the historical movements of Romanticism and later Naturalism.The celebration of Labor Day in Europe was formalized in Paris in 1889 by delegates of the Second International and later introduced in Italy in 1891. However, during the Fascist…
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Apr
29
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
Childhood Memories of Art: Discovering Pieter Bruegel’s “Children’s Games”

Childhood Memories of Art: Discovering Pieter Bruegel’s “Children’s Games”

Art
From a young age, my initiation into the world of painting took place among the pages of illustrated books that filled the shelves of our home library, a treasure trove of knowledge and beauty that my father, himself a painter, had carefully curated. I was around six or seven years old when I discovered the joy of lying on my bed, picking up a volume dedicated to a renowned painter or an exhibition catalog, and letting myself be transported into the adventures depicted on those pages.Among my favorites were the Flemish landscapes, full of that dark and mysterious charm where…
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Apr
27
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
The Evolution of Time: From Monastic Hours to Mechanical Marvels in the Middle Ages

The Evolution of Time: From Monastic Hours to Mechanical Marvels in the Middle Ages

History
In the heart of the Middle Ages, a new conception of time began to take shape, transitioning from the fleeting shadows of canonical hours to the brilliant innovations of clock mechanisms. Originally, the day was punctuated by monastic prayers: Matins in the stillness of the night, Lauds at dawn, following the solar rhythm with Prime at 6:00 AM, Terce at 9:00 AM, Sext at noon, None at 3:00 PM, Vespers at sunset, and Compline before nightly rest. This division defined the essence of daily life, influencing not only clergy and nobility but also peasants and soldiers. Orologio astronomico di Praga…
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Apr
25
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
Saint Mark: The Evangelist Who Shaped Venice’s Legacy

Saint Mark: The Evangelist Who Shaped Venice’s Legacy

Art
April 25th is a symbolic date in the Christian church, dedicated to the commemoration of Saint Mark the Evangelist, a figure deserving attention not only for his fundamental role as one of the four evangelists but also for the profound cultural and historical impact he had on cities like Venice. Born around 20 AD, possibly in Israel or Cyprus, Saint Mark died in Alexandria, Egypt, in the second half of the first century.Saint Mark is universally recognized as the author of the Gospel of Mark and is venerated as the patriarch and first bishop of Alexandria by the Coptic Church,…
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Apr
23
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
Saint George: Patron of Soldiers, Scouts, and Dragon Slayers

Saint George: Patron of Soldiers, Scouts, and Dragon Slayers

Art
Carlo Crivelli: San Giorgio (1472) (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) On April 23rd, we celebrate Saint George, the patron saint of numerous groups tied to military and chivalric traditions. These include Archers, Knights, Soldiers, Halberdiers, Armorers, and more. Even Scouts and Guides see him as their protector. This saint is easily recognized in artistic representations by his distinctive attributes: the dragon, elegant armor, the palm of martyrdom, the banner with a red cross on a white background, and, of course, a princess.Saint George is famous not only for his style but also for his role as a dragon slayer,…
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Apr
20
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
Unveiling the Emotional Depth of Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo’s “The Holy Family”

Unveiling the Emotional Depth of Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo’s “The Holy Family”

Art
Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo's (1868-1907) painting "The Fourth Estate" is undoubtedly one of the most iconic works of Italian art, but it is not the only masterpiece deserving of discovery in the painter's rich repertoire. Among Pellizza's hidden treasures is certainly "The Holy Family," a painting of extraordinary craftsmanship and emotional intensity, despite remaining unfinished. An Unfinished Masterpiece Laden with Emotion Created in 1892, this painting stands out for its bold and innovative choice to represent sacred figures in a human and earthly manner. Pellizza opted for the absence of halos and used sanguine strokes to outline the figures, decisions…
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Apr
15
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
The Hidden Messages of Cremona: A Murale’s Call to Reflection

The Hidden Messages of Cremona: A Murale’s Call to Reflection

Literature, Society
During a trip organized by the Friends of the Museums of Vercelli, as we approached the Violin Museum, the streets of Cremona turned into an open-air art gallery, revealing details of a reality often overlooked to the attentive passerby. In this context, almost unexpectedly, a mural laden with cryptic meanings emerged, escaping the notice of those without keen eyes. The Lombard city, known for its historical and cultural heritage, became the bearer of a cryptic message, a visual anachronism in an everyday setting.The words "WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" seem to dance in a macabre waltz…
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Apr
15
2024
By Marco Mattiuzzi
Rediscovering the Middle Ages: Innovations and Cultural Progress Unveiled

Rediscovering the Middle Ages: Innovations and Cultural Progress Unveiled

History
Friedrich Herlin: La circoncisione di Cristo, 1466 (Polittico di Rothenburg, Germania) The collective imagination often associates the Middle Ages with an era of darkness, where superstition, ignorance, and violence prevailed. This perception, solidified in the 18th century by the Enlightenment thinkers, overshadows the countless innovations and cultural progress that characterized this thousand-year period.Anything that appears backward today is commonly labeled as “medieval,” perpetuating the Enlightenment’s idea that condemned the Middle Ages as an era of fanaticism and religious obscurantism. However, it is essential to remember that the Middle Ages were also a melting pot of culture, legal developments, and revolutionary…
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Apr
10
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
The Risorgimento Epic: Gerolamo Induno’s Impact on Italian Narrative Painting

The Risorgimento Epic: Gerolamo Induno’s Impact on Italian Narrative Painting

Art, History
The Risorgimento Epic, an extraordinary historical journey that shaped Italy between 1848 and 1860, stands out as a fascinating subject for art and history enthusiasts. The Risorgimento, focusing on the intellectual and artistic movements of the time, marks the rise of a new ruling class driven by liberal and progressive ideals.A key figure in this narrative is Gerolamo Induno (1825–1890), a renowned painter who, along with his brother Domenico Induno (1815–1878), also a prominent painter, actively participated in the Risorgimento movements. Gerolamo's artistic journey, which began under illustrious mentors such as Luigi Sabatelli and Francesco Hayez at the Brera Academy…
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Apr
09
2024
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By Marco Mattiuzzi
Discover the Majesty of Vercelli’s Ottonian Crucifix: A Triumph of Art and Faith

Discover the Majesty of Vercelli’s Ottonian Crucifix: A Triumph of Art and Faith

Art
Crocifisso Ottoniano The Vercelli Cathedral: What a Marvel! This sacred temple boasts a majestic example of the "Christus Triumphans": an Ottonian Crucifix that defies conventions with its depiction not of pain, but of glory and royalty. This sculpture, an authentic treasure of religious art, evokes the artistic tradition of a victorious Christ, as seen in Byzantine art, before the Franciscan shift that later introduced the suffering Christ, the "Christus Patiens."With its impressive dimensions—3.27 meters in height and 2.36 meters in width—the Vercelli Crucifix is a unique piece, not only for its size but also for the mystery surrounding its origin.…
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