Seven extraordinary frescoes by Giandomenico Tiepolo (1727-1804) had been kept for over fifty years in the residences of the owners who courageously saved them from war destruction. Today the heirs, convinced of the opportunity for public enjoyment of these masterpieces, have assigned them to the Palladio Museum. An exhibition is dedicated to them, created thanks to the skills and collaboration of the Superintendency of Verona directed by Fabrizio Magani, who curates it together with the director of the Palladio Museum, Guido Beltramini.
Several stories intertwine in this story. That of the extraordinary art of the Tiepolos, capable of transforming the Venetian fresco tradition from its roots. That of the defense of the artistic heritage in the dark years of the Second World War. But there is a third story that inextricably links the frescoes in Palazzo Valmarana Franco to Palladian studies: in fact, they were created two decades after the extraordinary decoration of Villa Valmarana ai Nani, for the client's son, Gaetano Valmarana. In the suburban home not far from the Palladian Rotonda, for their father Giustino Valmarana, the Tiepolos celebrate the naturalness of a "moralised" life in the countryside. Twenty years later, in the city, a short distance from the Teatro Olimpico, the register is completely different: Tiepolo conceives for his son a re-edition in painting of the magnificent scene from Palladio's ancient theater, no longer adopting the light and playful register of life rural but the dignified language, monochrome but nevertheless darting, of the nearby Palladian architecture.
"We are proud to be able to contribute to the culture of our city - declare Camillo and Giovanni Franco, owners of the frescoes - with a part of the history of our family". Among other things, it was Fausto Franco, uncle of the generous owners and Superintendent of Monuments, who oversaw the rescue of the family frescoes in 1945. Ten years later Franco himself, together - among others - with Rodolfo Pallucchini, Anthony Blunt, Rudolf Wittkower and André Chastel, was among the thirteen founders of the first Scientific Council of the Palladian Center, coordinated by Renato Cevese.
“This is a commendable and very opportune initiative – declares Fabrizio Magani – in consideration of the effective destruction that Tiepolo's frescoes suffered in Vicenza during the war. It is therefore important that today a very important part of the surviving Tiepolo becomes usable to the public”.
The works will be displayed in the Sala delle Arti on the main floor of Palazzo Barbarano, in continuity with the exhibition halls of the Palladio Museum. "In this way - declares Howard Burns, president of the Scientific Council of the Palladian Center - the museum reaffirms its nature as an authentic 'city museum', a place for study but also for the conservation of the finds of urban memory in its most significant aspects".
The exhibition, which will open to the public on Friday 3 November, will be accompanied by a catalog with contributions from Fabrizio Magani (Superintendent of archaeology, fine arts and landscape for the provinces of Verona, Rovigo and Vicenza), Guido Beltramini (CISA director Andrea Palladio), Luca Fabbri, Maristella Vecchiato and Giovanna Battista (Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape Superintendency for the provinces of Verona, Rovigo and Vicenza).
On the occasion of the exhibition, to expand the opportunity to get to know the great Venetian artist, the Palladio Museum and Villa Valmarana ai Nani are offering reciprocal reductions on entrance tickets.
