Sky Arte Documentary Uncovers African Figures in Renaissance Art

On Tuesday, January 2, Sky Arte will premiere a documentary entitled 'Il Rinascimento nascosto – Presenze africane nell’arte.' Cristian Di Mattia directs the film, with Francesca Priori as the writer. It delves into the identities and contributions of African and Afro-descendant figures featured in Renaissance art by renowned artists like Michelangelo, Botticelli, Mantegna, Ghirlandaio, Carpaccio, Veronese, Tiziano, Pontormo, and Vasari. These individuals are present in masterpieces housed in the Uffizi Galleries, Venetian palaces, and Roman basilicas, yet their narratives are often overlooked. The documentary opens with portraits of Alessandro de' Medici, the first Duke of Florence, potentially the era's most notable Afro-descendant. Experts such as Justin Thompson, Kate Lowe, and others contribute to uncovering this neglected facet of the Renaissance.