Rovigo Exhibition Explores Four European Secessions

A new exhibition at Palazzo Roverella in Rovigo, curated by Francesco Parisi, brings together four European Secession movements for the first time. The show examines the Secessions of Munich, Vienna, Prague, and Rome, highlighting their exclusivity, stylistic pluralism, and international orientation. The Munich section features works by Franz von Stuck, Carl Strathmann, and Thomas Theodor Heine. The Vienna section, introduced by the motto 'To every age its art, to every art its freedom' from Joseph Maria Olbrich's building, includes pieces by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, though loans were limited due to centenary preparations in 2018. It also covers the movement's broader system: exhibitions for young artists, the magazine Ver Sacrum, the School of Applied Arts, and the Wiener Werkstätte. The Prague section presents the Sursum movement (1910–1912), largely never before exhibited in Italy, featuring artists like Josef Váchal, Jan Konupek, and Jaroslav Horejc, whose works explore transcendence, spirituality, and the occult. The Rome section revisits three 'off' exhibitions by artists seeking visibility beyond the Società Amatori e Cultori di Belle Arti, revealing that many of the same names appeared in official shows, suggesting the term 'Secession' was used more as a rebellious label in a power struggle.