Is Public Art Truly Public? A Critical Examination of Italy's Piazzas
The article by Nicola Davide Angerame questions whether public art in Italian piazzas is genuinely public, contrasting it with museum governance. While museums have scientific directors, boards, and politically correct management, piazzas are often handed to the first comer—artists sponsored by private economic actors—without adequate curatorial oversight. The author argues that public access alone does not make art public; the missing component is public interest. Historically, piazzas served as the first museums, as exemplified by Florence's Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria, which housed sculptures like Cellini's Perseus. The modern public museum emerged in the 18th century with the British Museum (1753) and the Louvre during the French Revolution. Ancient Rome had an estimated 3,890 bronze statues in public spaces, as recorded in a 6th-century manuscript. The tradition of public sculpture revived in the Renaissance with Donatello's Gattamelata (1445) and Michelangelo's Campidoglio (1536). Contemporary examples include Maurizio Cattelan's L.O.V.E. (2010) in Milan's Piazza degli Affari, originally intended for two weeks but still standing. The article critiques the current trend of private interests colonizing piazzas, citing recurring controversies in Piazza della Signoria. It calls for a serious reflection on who should manage public art and what role piazzas should play in educating public taste and ethics.
Key facts
- The article is by Nicola Davide Angerame on Artribune.
- Museums have scientific directors, boards, and politically correct management.
- Piazzas are often given to artists sponsored by private economic actors.
- Public access alone does not make art public; public interest is missing.
- Florence's Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria is an early example of public art.
- The Loggia housed Cellini's Perseus commissioned by Grand Duke Cosimo I.
- The British Museum opened in 1753, 16 years before the Uffizi became a museum in 1769.
- The Louvre became a public museum during the French Revolution.
- Ancient Rome had 3,890 bronze statues in public spaces according to a 6th-century manuscript.
- Donatello's Gattamelata was erected in 1445 in Padua.
- Michelangelo designed Piazza del Campidoglio in 1536 for Charles V's visit.
- The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius survived because it was misattributed to Constantine.
- Maurizio Cattelan's L.O.V.E. was installed in September 2010 in Piazza degli Affari, Milan.
- L.O.V.E. was meant to stay two weeks but remains permanently.
- Piazzas have been sites for political rituals, revolutions, and statue toppling.
- Anti-colonial movements have targeted statues of Christopher Columbus.
- The article questions what should replace destroyed statues.
- Piazza della Signoria in Florence faces recurring controversies over temporary sculptures.
- The author argues piazzas should educate public taste and ethics, not just offer visibility.
Entities
Artists
- Nicola Davide Angerame
- Benvenuto Cellini
- Donatello
- Michelangelo
- Maurizio Cattelan
- Gianni Vattimo
- Jean-Luc Nancy
Institutions
- Artribune
- Loggia dei Lanzi
- Piazza della Signoria
- Galleria degli Uffizi
- British Museum
- Louvre
- Palazzo Mezzanotte
- Borsa di Milano
- Piazza degli Affari
- Biblioteca Vaticana
- Università di Torino
- Amazon
Locations
- Florence
- Italy
- Padua
- Rome
- Milan
- London
- Paris
- United States
- Tuscany
- Piazza della Signoria
- Loggia dei Lanzi
- Piazza del Campidoglio
- Piazza degli Affari
- Palazzo Mezzanotte
- Foro Romano
- Colosseo
- Pantheon
- Ur
- Alexandria