Giovanni dal Ponte: First Monographic Exhibition at Florence's Galleria dell'Accademia

The Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, under director Cecilie Hollberg, presents the first monographic exhibition dedicated to Giovanni dal Ponte (1385-1437), a highly sought-after painter in 1430s Florence. The exhibition, curated by Angelo Tartuferi and Lorenzo Sbaraglio, features loans from around the world and continues the museum's tradition of scholarly research. The project originated in 2012 after the Uffizi's exhibition 'Bagliori dorati. Il Gotico Internazionale a Firenze, 1375-1440,' where Tartuferi identified the need for a critical reassessment of dal Ponte's role between the 14th and 15th centuries. The show opens with the 'Incoronazione della Vergine' from the Accademia's collection, juxtaposed with Gherardo Starnina's 'Trittico Würzburg,' a key influence on dal Ponte. The installation contrasts black walls with gilded altarpieces, recently restored. However, panels depicting Florence's cathedral, consecrated in 1436, are deemed less effective due to their tenuous link to the works. The exhibition traces dal Ponte's stylistic development under masters like Lorenzo Ghiberti, Paolo Uccello, and Masolino da Panicale, and his early interpretations of Masaccio's innovations. It also pays tribute to scholars Miklós Boskovits and Luciano Bellosi. The show runs until March 12, 2017, at the Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence.