Gli Animali nell'Arte dal Rinascimento a Ceruti at Palazzo Martinengo, Brescia

Palazzo Martinengo in Brescia hosts 'Gli Animali nell'Arte dal Rinascimento a Ceruti', an exhibition exploring animal depictions in Italian painting from the 16th to 18th centuries. Curated by Davide Dotti, the show features 80 masterpieces by artists such as Guercino, Bachiacca, Grechetto, Campi, Cavalier d'Arpino, Giordano, and Giacomo Ceruti. The exhibition is divided into ten sections, showcasing domestic pets, exotic animals like elephants and lions, and mythical creatures such as dragons and unicorns. A highlight is Ceruti's 'Ritratto di vecchio con carlino', used as the poster image, depicting a man shaking hands with his dog. The show also includes four previously unseen works by the Pitocchetto and other paintings from private collections, such as Pietro Liberi's 'Venere, amore e cagnolino vestito da bambina' and Lorenzo Lippi's 'Ritratto di gentiluomo con Labrador'. Patronized by WWF, the exhibition encourages an 'ecological reading' of the artworks, emphasizing biodiversity. Paola Brambilla, WWF delegate for Lombardy, stated that nature inspiring great artists can now inspire visitors to foster love for animals. Unexpectedly, the exhibition also features ceramic works by Bertozzi & Casoni, including 'Cuccia Brillo con setter inglese', 'Macaco dell’arte', and 'Nulla è come appare', which offer irreverent takes on the animal theme. The exhibition runs from January 19 to June 9, 2019.