Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks at Valley of the Temples in Agrigento

The exhibition 'La bottega di Leonardo – La Vergine delle Rocce' opens at Villa Aurea in the Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, from July 31 to December 31, 2023. Curated by Vittorio Sgarbi and Nicola Barbatelli, it features about ten important paintings by Leonardo's workshop pupils, offering insight into the Renaissance master's teachings. The centerpiece is the 'Vergine delle Rocce Cheramy' (1494–1497), a third version of Leonardo's iconic composition, on loan from a private Swiss collection. This work has been attributed to Leonardo by art historian Carlo Pedretti, but scholars Pietro Marani and Giovanni Agosti attribute it to Giampietrino. The exhibition is the inaugural event of Agrigento's program as Italian Capital of Culture 2025, produced by Mediatica, Ellison, and Samar, with patronage from the Ministry of Culture, the Sicilian Region, the Municipality of Agrigento, and the Valley of the Temples Park. The venue will be open until midnight during summer, with an increased entrance fee from €10 to €13.