Vicenza's Renaissance exhibition uses pig prices to reveal art values
The exhibition 'La fabbrica del Rinascimento' at the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza uses the price of a pig as a unit of value to help visitors understand the cost of Renaissance artworks. For example, Jacopo Bassano's altarpiece 'Martirio di santa Caterina' cost 2.7 pigs, while Tiziano Aspetti's bronze reliefs cost over 90 pigs. The show covers artistic production from the mid-16th century to 1585, focusing on the relationship between Andrea Palladio, Paolo Veronese, Alessandro Vittoria, and Jacopo Bassano. It also highlights the role of Vicenza's silk merchants as patrons and the influence of reformed religion. The exhibition cost €1.2 million, with €500,000 from Marsilio Arte.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'La fabbrica del Rinascimento' at Basilica Palladiana, Vicenza
- Uses pig prices as a metric for art values, e.g., Bassano's altarpiece = 2.7 pigs
- Covers period from mid-16th century to 1585 (death of Palladio)
- Focuses on Palladio, Veronese, Vittoria, and Bassano
- Highlights Vicenza's silk merchants as patrons
- Exhibition cost €1.2 million, with €500,000 from Marsilio Arte
- Includes works like Tintoretto's first painting outside Venice
- Curated by Guido Beltramini
Entities
Artists
- Jacopo Bassano
- Tiziano Aspetti
- Valerio Belli
- Andrea Palladio
- Paolo Veronese
- Alessandro Vittoria
- Jacopo Tintoretto
- Parmigianino
- Guido Beltramini
- Marta Santacatterina
Institutions
- Basilica Palladiana
- Museo Civico di Palazzo Chiericati
- Louvre
- Marsilio Arte
- Artribune
Locations
- Vicenza
- Italy
- Venice
- Germany
- Europe