Within the splendid setting of Villa Fiorentino, the Fondazione Sorrento, in collaboration with the Comune of Sorrento, presents the exhibit “Mario Sironi: Pittura - Grande Decorazione – Illustrazione,” a grand event that pairs perfectly well with the Sorrentine spring, open to the public until April 20th. On view are works from the collections of Andrea Sironi Straußwald, Galleria Cinquantasei and other, private collectors. The exposition is divided into three sections, making for a total of 80 pieces: La Pittura or Painting (from the 1920s to 1961), La Grande Decorazione or Grand Decor (from 1934 to 1938) and L'Illustrazione, Illustration (1915 to 1925). The exhibit and catalogue propose a passionate reading of Mario Sironi's ouevre; this extraordinary Italian artist, a proponent of Giovanni Testori and plenty of other important scholars, was in the company of Picasso as a protagonist of the European art history that was made in the 1900s. It is Pablo Picasso to whom Villa Fiorentino will dedicate another exhibit, May 30th to October 12th. Art events such as these - ever more frequent given the effots of the Comune of Sorrento and the Fondazione Sorrento - render this city south of Naples an increasingly important point of reference for art lovers and for, in particular, apasionados for 20th-Century creativity. |
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In Italy, February is the month of Carnival. The cities celebrating the occasion fill up with masks and confetti, lights and colors that create a unique and festive atmosphere. The origins of Carnival are ancient and date back to the Roman Saturnalia, which were celebrated in honor of the new year, in addition to the Lupercalia and the Dionysian celebrations.
However, it is highly likely that the word "carnival" derives from the Latin carnem levare, because originally the expression indicated the banquet that was held the day before the start of the meat fasting, or Lent. Among Italy’s most beloved carnivals, particular mention goes to the Carnival of Venice. The first official document with which the Carnival of Venice was declared a public celebration dates back to 1296 – an edict by the Senate of the “most Serene Republic,” making the day before Lent a holiday. Established by the Venetian oligarchy as a concession to the people, its objective was fun and merrymaking, where the mask dominated as a means to briefly ignore any signs of belonging to social class, gender or religion. Today the Carnival of Venice is an evocative and much-anticipated popular fest, unique in terms of its history, its masks and its atmosphere. Highly-reputed and appreciated in all the world, it brings thousands of tourists to Italy every year. During the Lagoon’s two-week Carnival celebration, all can watch and take part in the numerous events and displays filling the piazzas and main waterways of the city. As in the past, private parties and masquerade balls still happen behind the scenes today, inside Venice’s grand noble palaces. In these places, where time seems to stand still, guests can jump into this world of ancient splendor, reliving the Carnival tradition of long ago. Some of the most spectacular moments during the Venetian carnival are the Flight of the Angel (or Flight of Colombina), a tradition that began with a Turkish acrobat in mid-1500s. In this amazing spectacle an artist in flesh and bone hangs from a metal cable, and, suspended in air, makes his descent from the top of St. Mark’s Bell Tower to the Doge’s Palace. It is a magnificent sight to see! Venice, city of art and UNESCO World Heritage Site, exudes its charm all throughout the year, but only Carnival can render it even more magical than it already is! |
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