Pontassieve exhibition revives Ragghianti collection, celebrates provincial virtues

Antonio Natali, former director of the Uffizi, argues that the Italian province embodies generosity and humility, qualities he believes are essential for the country's future. He recounts his efforts as Uffizi director to temporarily return works from the gallery's reserves to their provincial origins, fostering local pride and awareness. As evidence of provincial vitality, he cites Pontassieve, a town near Florence, which is currently hosting an exhibition of paintings and sculptures from the collection of Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti in its municipal offices. The works, by artists such as Giorgio Morandi, Carlo Levi, Alberto Viani, Emilio Greco, Filippo De Pisis, and Carlo Mattioli, demonstrate the esteem and affection that linked these prominent creators to Ragghianti, a figure who opposed the fascist regime, participated in the armed Resistance, and worked to promote contemporary art and democratic art education in Florence, a city that has largely forgotten him. The exhibition aims to revive his memory, embodying the generosity and humility Natali sees as characteristic of the province.