The Case for Color in Italian Museum Sculpture Displays
Fabrizio Federici argues that Italian museums should abandon the white-wall paradigm for sculpture exhibitions, tracing the problem to Winckelmann's condemnation of color. He notes that white walls mute sculptural volumes and profiles, contrasting with effective examples like the brick-clad Glyptothek in Munich and Rafael Moneo's Museo Nacional de Arte Romano in Mérida (1981-1986). Federici praises the brick interior of the ex-church of Santissima Trinità in Annunziata in Foligno, which houses Gino De Dominicis's 'Calamita cosmica' (1990), as an ideal setting. He criticizes overzealous restorations that remove patina, citing the Torlonia Marbles as examples of statues rendered blindingly white. Federici advocates for colored walls and preservation of patina to enhance sculpture viewing.
Key facts
- Fabrizio Federici wrote an editorial in Artribune Magazine issue 84.
- The editorial criticizes the use of strong, shaped light beams on paintings.
- Federici argues that Winckelmann's condemnation of color in sculpture persists in museum displays.
- White walls in Italian museums mute sculptural volumes and profiles.
- The Gipsoteca Canoviana in Possagno is cited as a successful total-white exception.
- Brick wall cladding is praised for displaying classical and modern sculpture.
- Examples include the Glyptothek in Munich and Museo Nacional de Arte Romano in Mérida.
- Rafael Moneo designed the Mérida museum, built 1981-1986.
- Gino De Dominicis's 'Calamita cosmica' is displayed in the ex-church of Santissima Trinità in Annunziata, Foligno.
- The church was built 1760-1765 by architect Carlo Murena and remains incomplete.
- Federici criticizes restorations that remove patina, citing the Torlonia Marbles.
- He advocates for colored walls and preservation of patina to enhance sculpture viewing.
Entities
Artists
- Gino De Dominicis
- Rafael Moneo
- Carlo Murena
- Fabrizio Federici
Institutions
- Artribune Magazine
- Glyptothek
- Museo Nacional de Arte Romano
- Gipsoteca Canoviana di Possagno
- Torlonia Marbles
Locations
- Munich
- Germany
- Mérida
- Spain
- Extremadura
- Emerita Augusta
- Foligno
- Italy
- Possagno