APCOM

"No other venue would have been more appropriate to host Antonio Canova's sculptures and those of other neoclassic Italian artists, coming from the Hermitage Museum" said Vittorio Sgarbi, Milano's Municipality's Culture Assessor during the exhibition preview of "Canova alla corte degli zar. Capolavori dall'Ermitage di San Pietroburgo". The exhibition is hosted at Palazzo Reale, in the spaces of the ex Palace Museum from tomorrow, 23rd February, to 2nd June. Sgarbi then added: "It will be difficult to return these masterpieces once the exhibition is over".

Through the works of art on display, the exhibit traces the pivotal moments of the history of sculpture in Italy even after the success of Canova, for decades considered the most important artist in the western world.

Visitors will be able to admire four inestimable works of art such as "Le Tre grazie", "La Danzatrice", "L'Amorino alato" and "La Maddalena penitente" and other little known sculptures like "Le Ore Danzanti" by Finelli, "La Flora e la Psiche svenuta" by Tenerani, "L'Amore che abbevera le colombe" by Bienaimé, "La Ninfa dello scorpione" and "La Fiducia in Dio" by Bartolini, "Il Bacchino malato" by Dupré. Altogether 40 masterpieces all coming from the Hermitage collection will be on exhibit.

We are pleased - said Sgarbi - that Milan can offer such a high profile cultural event nearing all other important European cities". Minister for Cultural Heritage Francesco Rutelli also participated in the exhibition preview. Rutelli underlined "Italy's supremacy in the art of sculpture".