Philippe Costamagna's 'Avventure di un occhio' Reveals the Art of Connoisseurship

Philippe Costamagna, director of the Palais Fesch Musée des Beaux Arts in Ajaccio and a specialist in 16th-century Italian painting, has published 'Avventure di un occhio' with Johan & Levi. The book's original French title, 'Histoires d'œils,' features a neologism for those initiated in attributing old master works. The first chapter recounts Costamagna's attribution of a crucifix in the Musée des Beaux Arts of Nice to Bronzino, previously thought lost. In an interview, Costamagna discusses the 'holy trinity' of art history—Bernard Berenson, Roberto Longhi, Federico Zeri—whom he knew personally except for Berenson. He critiques Longhi's nationalism and support for fascism, and Berenson's role in creating the expertise system and the Isabella Stewart Gardner collection. Costamagna emphasizes seeing works in person over photographs, a lesson from Zeri, and warns against corruption by money. He praises gallerists' eyes, citing Emmanuel Perrotin. The book's final chapter, 'Confesso che ho sbagliato,' echoes Zeri's autobiography, admitting errors from relying on photos. Costamagna's method is simple: 'Vedere, vedere, vedere opere.'