450th Anniversary of Giorgio Vasari's Death Celebrated in Arezzo and Beyond

The 450th anniversary of Giorgio Vasari's death is being marked with exhibitions and events, primarily in his birthplace of Arezzo. The main exhibition, 'Giorgio Vasari. Il teatro delle Virtù,' curated by Cristina Acidini with Alessandra Baroni, opens in October. Vasari's legacy extends across Italy: in Florence, Rome (Sala dei Cento Giorni, Cappella di San Pietro Martire), Naples (sacristy of Sant'Anna dei Lombardi), and Bosco Marengo (convent of Santa Croce, with an altarpiece designed as a Counter-Reformation triumphal arch). The exhibition 'Alessandria Preziosa' at Palazzo Monferrato in Alessandria runs until October 6, showcasing Vasari's works in Piedmont. Vasari is celebrated as an architect (Uffizi, Corridoio Vasariano, Palazzo dei Cavalieri in Pisa) and biographer (author of 'Le Vite'), though his Florentine-centric view and criticism of Venetian painting have drawn criticism. Controversially, the Uffizi auditorium, dedicated to Vasari in 2018, was re-dedicated to Antonio Paolucci in February 2024 by directors Schmidt and Verde, sparking debate.