Impressionists. The dawn of modernity

From March 30th to July 28th, 2024, the Historical Infantry Museum in Rome celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism with the exhibition "Impressionists: The Dawn of Modernity." The exhibition documents the origins and legacy of the revolutionary movement born in the mid-19th century.

The exhibition is not just a series of paintings lined up one after the other but rather an organic collection of works aimed at documenting the emergence of the Impressionist revolution in Paris. It explores a timeframe from 1850 to 1915. Curated by Vincenzo Sanfo in collaboration with Vittorio Sgarbi, the exhibition aims to highlight the significant societal changes of the time, including the advent of industrialization, photography, cinema, electricity, the telephone, and early air travel, all showcased and proposed in the famous Parisian international exhibitions. These innovations undoubtedly contributed to changing society and consequently, the world of art.

The exhibition, a completely new endeavor for the city of Rome, features around 200 works, including paintings, drawings, watercolors, sculptures, ceramics, and engravings. These artworks document the artists who participated in the eight official "Impressionist" exhibitions, with particular attention to the techniques they experimented with and used.

Accompanying the artworks are documentary materials such as letters, photographs, books, clothing, and objects that offer insights into the society that emerged and flourished during the Impressionist movement.

The exhibition journey begins with the artists associated with the Barbizon School, who were the inspirational roots of the young Impressionists. It then progresses to the participants in the eight official Impressionist exhibitions, starting with the historic 1874 exhibition held in the studio of the photographer Nadar, which marked the movement's official entry into the art world.... read the rest of the article»