Genoa's Palazzo Ducale Hosts Major Rubens Exhibition with Over 100 Works

Palazzo Ducale in Genoa presents a major exhibition on Peter Paul Rubens, featuring over 100 works including paintings, drawings, engravings, tapestries, furniture, and ancient volumes. Curated by Anna Orlando, the show spans 16 sections across the noble floor, highlighting Rubens' connections to Genoa. Among the 30 Rubens-related works, 18 are autograph, alongside pieces by artists he studied or collaborated with, such as Tintoretto, Luca Cambiaso, Sofonisba Anguissola, and Frans Snyders. Fifteen Rubens works are exhibited in Genoa for the first time, ten of which debut in Italy. The exhibition includes a controversial painting, 'Christ Risen Appearing to His Mother,' recently seized by Carabinieri for alleged illicit export but quickly reinstalled. The show also features a network of over 60 public and private entities, with satellite events including more than 150 collateral initiatives. Nils Büttner, professor at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart and chairman of the Centrum Rubenianum in Antwerp, emphasizes the international scope, noting Rubens' desire to demonstrate peaceful coexistence through his volume on Genoese palaces. Jan Rombouts, cultural advisor to Antwerp's deputy mayor, highlights the twin-city relationship between Antwerp and Genoa. Anna Orlando describes the exhibition as a narrative of wonder, aiming to entertain and intrigue visitors.