ANDREA POZZO: Il Trionfo dell'Illusione
March 5, 2010
- May 2, 2010
Exhibition on the occasion of the 300th death anniversary of this extraordinary artist. Graphic National Institute, Rome (Palace Fontana di Trevi). Promoted by : Papal Gregorian University, Austrian Historical Institute in Rome, Biblioteca Hertziana (the History of the Art Max Planck Institute ), Graphic National Institute. With the subsidy of: Independent province of Trento and the National Committee of the Third Centenarian after Andrea Pozzo's death 1789 - 2009 (Artemis Catalog, Rome).
The art of the perspective, used by Pozzo and spread through his treaty, is the main topic of the exhibition. The perspective technique has been valuated considering also the achievements accomplished in 17th century in the field of the "mixed mathematics". The eyes of the visitors will be focused on the roman masterpieces: the spectacular chapel of Sant' Ignazio in the church of the Jesus, the amazing fake cupola in the church of Sant' Ignazio and the illusionistic frescoes on the vaults of the same building. The show is made up of more than 160 objects: painting sketches, sculptures, designs, engravings and books. An extraordinary series of mathematical and drawing tools, really a real " 17th century laboratory of practical perspective".
At this exhibition it is possible to admire the Pozzo original wooden model, made for the altar of Saint Luigi Gonzaga in the church of S. Ignazio and which gives a strong visual impact. Some very fine drawings, usually stored at the Uffizi museum, are displayed here as mark of the ephemeral creations, showing the creative genius of the artist. They depict a real senographic apparatus for the "Quarantore", that is to say, real sacred theaters put up in the churches of the Jesuits, during the carnival and the holy week and used for displaying the Holy Sacrament. The spectacularity of such ephemeral apparatus gave Pozzo the inspiration to invent real architectural works, which produce a deep visual effect. A fair amount of inedited drawings (private collection) ascribable to a pupil and a close collaborator of the artist, allowed to evaluate the Pozzo's influence in the architectonic production at that time.