Sinibaldo Scorza's Rediscovery in Genoa Exhibition

A new exhibition at Palazzo Meridiana in Genoa revives the work of Sinibaldo Scorza (1589–1631), a Genoese painter of animals and mythological scenes who was admired by Queen Christina of Sweden and the poet Giambattista Marino. Curated by Anna Orlando, the show pairs Scorza's paintings with works by Flemish contemporaries like Lucas and Cornelis de Wael to highlight stylistic differences. Scorza, trained under Giovanni Battista Paggi and influenced by Brueghel, developed a unique animal-focused style, painting live creatures including South American parrots and scenes from Aesop's fables. His 'animate' still lifes and genre scenes, often featuring Orpheus, fell out of favor in the 18th century, leading to misattributions. The exhibition also features Scorza's drawings at Palazzo Rosso, tracing his artistic evolution against the backdrop of 17th-century Genoa's wealthy private patronage.