Roma e l'Antico. Realtà e visione nel '700
30th November 2010 > 8th March 2011 This exhibition which opened the new galleries of the Museo Fondazione Roma in Palazzo Sciarra was both artistic and archaeological, and illustrated the way in which ancient monuments, excavations, museums and artistic institutions were able to nourish the Arts and Erudition and spread the love for classic art throughout Europe which, at the end of the eighteen century, became an indispensible model.The exhibition brought into focus the major factors that that generated Rome’s cultural wealth and fame: Classic Antiquity. Especially in the second half of the century Rome was an authentic crossroads for artists who came from all over Europe in order to study Antiquity. As investigations today reveal, the Papal capital became the most important centre for culture due to the abundance of classical figurative models which are fundamental for artistic training. The Roman classical heritage, described as an unparalleled resource for the renaissance of Europe, was actually the result of an invariable strategy pursued by Popes and civic authorities during the eighteen century, which the exhibition explored by illustrating the chief elements. A large section of exhibition was dedicated to the training syllabus for artists in Rome and the way this model was spread through the Accademia Romana di San Luca, the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid and the Museo Riminaldi in Ferrara. Another section addressed museums of Roman Antiquity for the purpose of explaining their educational role and power to promote tourism in the Eternal City.
