IL BAROCCO IN ITALIA

IL BAROCCO IN ITALIA
a visual journey through faith and art
Exhibition organized by
IRISH ARCHITECTURAL ARCHIVE
Cartlann Ailtireachta na hÉireann
Angela Tangianu, Director, Italian Institute of Culture
Simon Lincoln, Exhibitions Officer, Irish Architectural
Archive
Coordinators
In collaboration with
Prof. Domenica Pasculli Ferrara, Dipartimento di Lettere
Lingue Arti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro
Curator
6-22 November 2013
IMAGiTALY
Photos
Studio Tartaglione
Technical Coordination
Elisabetta Tonazzi, RIBA Conservation Architect
URS Infrastructure & Environment Ltd
Introduction
Irish Architectural Archive, 45 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Front cover: Church of San Domenico, Bitonto (BA).
Back: Basilica of S. Croce, Lecce.
Flap: Church of S. Chiara, Lecce.
Interior panels, left-to-right: Trevi Fountain, Rome;
Palazzo della Marra, Barletta (BA).
Tuesday – Friday from 10am to 5pm
&
Italian Institute of Culture, 11 Fitzwilliam Square East, Dublin 2
Monday – Friday from 11am to 5pm
www.iicdublino.esteri.it
www.iarc.ie
Prof. Domenica Pasculli Ferrara is Professor of History of
Modern Art, ‘Comparative History of the Art of European
Countries’ at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and
Literatures (Department of Humanities Language Arts),
University of Bari Aldo Moro. Since January 2011 the
Chair of Modern History is part of the UNESCO
International Forum - University and Heritage (FUUH).
She has published numerous studies and monographs on
painting, sculpture, architecture and the decorative arts
in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Significant,
in this sense, is her volume ‘Neapolitan art in Puglia from
the sixteenth to the eighteenth century’ (Fasano 1983,
reissued 1986), and her volume ‘Terra di Bari e Capitanata’
part of the Atlas of the Baroque in Italy (De Luca, Rome
1996, Second edition 2002, Third edition 2008).
Domenica has organized many relevant exhibitions and
conferences. She has participated in numerous seminars,
round tables and conferences in Italy and abroad.
THE BAROQUE IN ITALY
This exhibition celebrates the Italian Baroque and
presents a selection of artistic and architectural masterpieces produced during one of the most important,
controversial and misunderstood periods of Italian and
European art history. Italian Baroque, in stark contrast
with the quiet symmetry and perfect geometric
proportions of the Renaissance, was characterised by the
use of the curved line, sinuous ellipses and spirals, and
by an exaltation of complex polycentric curves.
Astonishing in its complexity, the extreme virtuosities of
its works were conceived to amaze and entertain. The
Baroque was also exemplified by the horror vacui: every
inch of the painted, sculptural or architectural surface
was richly decorated and embellished, giving the whole
a sense of density, dimensionality and lavish richness.
A VISUAL JOURNEY
The Baroque in Italy is presented through a charming
and surprising collection of photographs, with a selection
of regional examples from Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto,
Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata,
Sicily and Sardinia. There is a special concentration on
Puglia, a veritable open-air museum of the most
enchanting pieces of Baroque art, with particular
attention to the most valuable architectural works in
Foggia, Bari, Taranto, Brindisi, Lecce and their territory.
On the occasion of this exhibition we would like to invite
the contemporary European visitor to celebrate with us
the magnificence of the unconventional, creative,
innovative beauty of the Baroque style in Italy.
Elisabetta Tonazzi is an RIBA accredited Conservation
Architect based in London. She has specialised in
architectural conservation and restoration. She has
worked on built heritage conservation, contemporary
design in historic environments and historic landscape
preservation in Italy, Luxembourg, Ireland and the UK.
Her experience covers fortified buildings, monuments,
residential and mixed use, and industrial heritage,
ecclesiastical and public buildings.
Imagitaly is an Italian images bank created by a collective
of Italian professional photographers. Imagitaly encompasses
Italian Art, Architecture, Landscapes, Food and Lifestyle.
Each Italian region is fully portrayed by professional
photos about regional art and history, architecture, local
folklore, design, fashion, food, local products and much
more. Imagitaly provides easy access to high quality,
professional images capable of genuinely representing
Italy and the ‘Italian style’ beyond stereotypes.
www.imagitaly.com