Blog

Dec

28

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Echoes of Tragedy: Artistic Reflections on the Massacre of the Innocents

Art, SocietyIconografia Santi

Cornelis van Haarlem (1562-1638), Strage degli innocenti (1591), Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, Paesi Bassi In the heart of winter, as the days grow shorter and the chill creeps into the folds of our clothes, our collective memory turns to a narrative of lost innocence and historic cruelty: the Massacre of the Innocents. On December 28, the Church commemorates these little martyrs, victims of the fury of a king whom history has not forgotten.This dark yet meaningful story has inspired generations of artists who have captured their personal outcry against injustice on canvas and stone. There is no need for symbols…

Dec

27

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Deciphering Saint John: The Apostle and Evangelist in Art

Art, HistoryIconografia Santi

On December 27, as the light of Christmas still lingers, the Church commemorates another luminary: Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist. A central figure in Christianity, he is the archetype of the divine scribe, the intermediary who brought us the Word through his Gospel and the Revelation. But how is this venerable figure distinguished in artistic representations? For the layperson, identification might not be immediate, but this is where iconographic attributes come into play. Vladimir Borovikovsky - San Giovanni Apostolo ed Evangelista Every saint has their symbolic language, and in the case of Saint John, the elements that serve as…

Dec

26

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Saint Stephen the Martyr: An Iconic Figure in Christian Art

Art, HistoryIconografia Santi

On December 26, in an almost sacred stillness that follows the effervescence of Christmas, the Church turns its gaze to the figure of Saint Stephen the Martyr. This man, the first among the seven deacons appointed to assist the apostles in their sacred ministry, has a face that lives in paintings through icons and symbolism rather than accurate physical likeness. Essentially, he is a character more composed of the aura of his story than the anatomy of his face. Giotto - Santo Stefano Martire In Christian iconography, Saint Stephen is unmistakable. Often depicted with stones, these rocks are not mere…

Dec

22

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Pietro Saltini’s Artistic Legacy: Capturing the 19th Century Italian Life

Art

During the 19th century, a genre of painting vigorously established itself, choosing scenes from everyday life as its subjects. These paintings, like vivid windows into the past, can sometimes appear overly sweet, almost cloying when viewed with a contemporary aesthetic sense, portraying an idealized society, trapped in roles that seemed eternal and unchangeable at the time.It is challenging to fully immerse oneself in the emotions that motivated the purchase of these works, which were not intended to exalt either the Church or a now declining aristocracy. Their buyers were the emerging bourgeoisie: professionals, merchants, industrialists, all eager to reflect their…

Dec

21

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Rethinking Birth Rates: Balancing Environmental Challenges and Personal Freedom

Society

Controcorrente: Il Paradosso delle Politiche Pro-Nataliste in un'Epoca di Crisi Climatica In a world grappling with an unprecedented climate crisis, the insistence of some politicians on pro-natalist policies is not just anachronistic, but dangerously short-sighted. As our planet's resources face unprecedented pressure, the push for higher birth rates reveals a bitter irony and a concerning contradiction.Earth, already burdened with nearly 8 billion inhabitants, is not merely a matter of numbers. Each new birth represents not just another human to nourish, but also a new consumer of increasingly scarce resources. In this context, the solution to a demographic crisis cannot be…

Dec

20

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Echoes of Antiquity: The Enduring Impact of Greek Myths in Art

Art

Prelude: The Allure of Greek Myths in ArtIn the collective imagination, Greek myths stand as pillars of artistic inspiration. Rich in symbolism and archetypes, they provide a vivid canvas on which artists from every era have painted their world views. The myth of Hyacinthus and Apollo, in particular, emerges as an emotional fresco intertwining love, tragedy, and the changing nature of human existence.The Tragedy of Hyacinthus: A Tale of Love and JealousyIn Ovid's narrative, Apollo's love for the young Hyacinthus is marked by a heart-wrenching intensity. However, this love is not without danger: the jealousy of Zephyrus, the wind god,…

Dec

15

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Daphnis and Chloe: A Timeless Exploration of Human Experience

Movies

Literary Origin - The Work of Longus Sophist: Delving into "Daphnis and Chloe", also known as "Young Aphrodites", we immerse ourselves in the profound waters of the literary origin of the film, drawing from the narrative source of the ancient Longus Sophist. His text, a precious gem in Greek literature, transports us to a world of paradisiacal nature, innocent love, and bucolic adventures, elements that intertwine the emotional and visual fabric of the film.Longus' novel, written between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, unfolds on an imaginary Greek island, narrating the pure and naive love story between Daphnis and Chloe.…

Dec

11

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

The Ploughing by Luigi Steffani: A Fusion of Art and Music at The Wood That Sings Exhibition

Art

Within the ancient embrace of walls safeguarding the ARCA, located in the heart of the Church of San Marco in Vercelli, the exhibition "The Wood That Sings" is celebrated, a heartfelt homage to the distinguished Maestro Angelo Gilardino. It is a place where guitar strings intertwine with the threads of memory, where music becomes color, history, life. Among the displayed works, "The Ploughing" by Luigi Steffani is not just a painting, but a narrative, a seed planted in the canvas that sprouts through the centuries.Luigi Steffani, an artist with a Lombard heart and European spirit, left his studies to give…

Dec

11

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Caravaggio’s Bold Vision: The Madonna dei Parafrenieri

Art

Caravaggio: Madonna dei Parafrenieri In the vibrant Rome of the seventeenth century, where art and religion intertwine in a dance of power and passion, Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, prepares to paint a work destined to shake the very foundations of convention: the Madonna dei Parafrenieri. Commissioned by the Archconfraternity of the Papal Grooms, this canvas is intended to replace the image of Saint Anne in their chapel.Caravaggio's choice falls on the figure of Maddalena Antognetti, known as Lena, a woman of earthly charm and sensuality, a friend and model of the painter. In her, Caravaggio sees the perfect incarnation…

Dec

09

2023

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By Marco Mattiuzzi

Capturing Ephemeral Beauty: A Day at Milan’s Sculpture Exhibition

Art

On that cold March morning in 2017, as the streets of Milan slowly awakened under a leaden sky, I found myself enveloped in an atmosphere of intimate reflection at the Modern Art Gallery. The exhibition "100 Years of Milan Sculpture 1815-1915" was a journey through time, a tribute to sculpture that captured the essence of art in every form, from marble to bronze, from wood to plaster. The statues, some famous, others less known, seemed to converse among themselves, each telling its unique story.Among these, one in particular struck me: "The First Bath at the Lido" by Quintilio Corbellini, a…