At Palazzo Bonaparte, a treasure chest of ancient beauty, an exhibition brings together for the first time masterpieces never before shown to the public.
Associating the adjective “secret” with the Impressionists seems almost an oxymoron. What could be so secret about an artistic movement that has always had exhibitions devoted to it?
And yet, the exceptional nature of the “Secret Impressionists” exhibition, set in the splendid context of Palazzo Bonaparte, consists precisely in offering the opportunity to retrace the highlights of the movement through 50 masterpieces that have never been shown to the public.
The works on display, in fact, all come from private collections. Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Cézanne, Pissarro, Gauguin, Sisley and many others tell of the daily life of the 1800s with vibrant, fast brushstrokes, aimed at capturing light in all its nuances, away from academic schemes.
Atmospheric thrills follow each other along the decorated walls of Palazzo Bonaparte, where Maria Letizia Ramolino, Napoleon’s mother, lived for about twenty years. The atmosphere is intimate, with paintings hanging on marble fireplaces (made according to designs by Canova) and rooms embellished with recently restored fresh mosaics and frescoes.
During the visit, you can walk on the small wooden balcony jutting out onto Piazza Venezia, so loved by Maria Letizia, and observe the teeming life of the Eternal City.
Until March 8, 2020, www.arthemisia.it/en/home.