Lorenzo Canova on His Career Turning Point: Working with Maurizio Calvesi

Art historian and critic Lorenzo Canova identifies his collaboration with Maurizio Calvesi on the exhibition "Novecento. Arte e storia in Italia" as the turning point in his career. The show ran from late 2000 to mid-2001 at the Scuderie del Quirinale and Mercati di Traiano in Rome. Canova, who had graduated with Calvesi with a thesis on the frescoes of Castel Sant'Angelo, was invited to be his assistant curator. The exhibition focused on major 20th-century Italian artists and involved complex logistics, including loans from public and private collections and international shipping. Despite some controversy, it was a critical and public success, helping revive interest in 20th-century Italian art at a time when few contemporary art institutions existed. Canova co-edited the catalogue with Federica Pirani. The experience taught him that contemporary art research demands the same philological rigor as any historical period, a method he continues to apply.