Ettore Spalletti retrospective at Galleria Nazionale in Rome

The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome presents 'Il cielo in una stanza', a posthumous retrospective dedicated to Italian artist Ettore Spalletti (1940–2019). Curated by Éric de Chassey, former director of the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici (2009–2015), the exhibition features Spalletti's signature monochrome works in blue and white, arranged both in the central hall and interspersed with the permanent collection. The title, borrowed from a Gino Paoli song, reflects the artist's pursuit of a supernatural dimension through perceptual truths and fundamental geometries. A key highlight is an elliptical work never before exhibited, chosen from Spalletti's studio. The show aims to bring Spalletti's practice, often seen as purely Italian, into a more international context. De Chassey notes the importance of modulation over modeling, linking Spalletti to Cézanne. The exhibition runs at the Galleria Nazionale in Rome, with a catalog featuring essays by de Chassey and other curators.