1819: Leopardi's Infinity, Géricault's Raft, and Singapore's Founding

In 2019, the bicentennial of Giacomo Leopardi's poem 'L'Infinito' is celebrated in Recanati with a special exhibition of the original manuscript at Villa Colloredo Mels until May 19. The manuscript, owned by the Comune di Visso, is displayed as part of World Poetry Day events from March 21-24. Meanwhile, Théodore Géricault completed 'The Raft of the Medusa' in 1819, a Romantic masterpiece now at the Louvre, depicting the aftermath of the 1816 shipwreck off Mauritania. The painting broke from Neoclassicism and influenced artists like Delacroix, Turner, Courbet, Manet, and contemporary artist Cecily Brown, whose Naples exhibition at Thomas Dane Gallery (until July 20) features shipwreck paintings inspired by Géricault. Additionally, Singapore celebrates the bicentennial of Sir Stamford Raffles' arrival, with video projection installations in the city center until April 7.