Voglia d'Italia: Foreign Collectors and the Art Market in Early 20th Century Rome
The 'Voglia d'Italia' exhibition, curated by Emanuele Pellegrini, is currently on display at the Vittoriano in Rome, focusing on international collecting in Italy circa 1911. It showcases the collection of the Wurts couple, which includes Renaissance wooden sculptures and Russian folk art. They resided in Palazzo Antici Mattei and Villa Sciarra, where they established Orientalist Wunderkammern. A restored 1917 film, 'Rapsodia satanica', directed by Nino Oxilia, is part of the exhibition. Following their deaths between 1928 and 1933, both Mussolini supporters, they donated their collection to Italy, now housed in Palazzo Venezia. The exhibit also features a double portrait of Federico and Irene Perkins by Nicola D'Asnasch and addresses art market forgeries, concluding with a reflection on the Vittoriano's bronze frieze and Giulio Aristide Sartorio's bozzetto.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Voglia d'Italia' at Vittoriano, Rome, explores international collecting in Italy around 1911.
- Vittoriano completed in 1911 on design by architect Sacconi.
- Curated by Emanuele Pellegrini.
- Wurts collection: diplomat of Swiss-German origin collected Renaissance wooden statues; both collected Russian folk art.
- Wurts lived in Palazzo Antici Mattei and Villa Sciarra, created Orientalist Wunderkammern.
- Film 'Rapsodia satanica' (1917) by Nino Oxilia, recently restored, shown.
- Wurts died 1928-1933, left collection to Italy; now at Palazzo Venezia.
- Guide image: double portrait of Federico and Irene Perkins by Nicola D'Asnasch, styled after Piero della Francesca.
- Second section focuses on art market, exports, and sales methods.
- Collectors had 'mal di Toscana'; dealers sold many fakes to America.
- Forgery common in sculpture, painting, furniture, objects.
- Final section 'La vertigine del fregio' on Vittoriano's bronze frieze.
- Exit features Giulio Aristide Sartorio's bozzetto for Chamber of Deputies painting.
Entities
Artists
- Nino Oxilia
- Nicola D'Asnasch
- Piero della Francesca
- Giulio Aristide Sartorio
- Luca Della Robbia
- Gabriele D'Annunzio
- Matilde Serao
Institutions
- Vittoriano
- Palazzo Venezia
- Museo Civico Gaetano Filangieri
- Palazzo Antici Mattei
- Villa Sciarra
- Camera dei Deputati
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- San Pietroburgo
- Russia
- America
- Toscana