Here...
For those of you not traveling to Italy soon, how about a trip to a museum nearby just to get you in the mood?
Getty Museum (Los Angeles, CA): Soon the Getty will offer just a taste of Florence. The museum recently purchased two Italian bronzes (beating out the British Cultural Ministry -- sorry, Brits). The bronzes, both by Pietro Cipriani, are replicas of two marble sculptures at the Uffizi in Florence: "Venus de' Medici" and "Dancing Faun." While the bronzes aren't on display yet, watch for news of an exhibit coming soon!
Frick Art and Historical Center (Pittsburgh, PA): The Prado in Pittsburgh? Why yes! Last week the Frick premiered the new exhibit "From Michelangelo to Annibale Carracci: A Century of Italian Drawings from the Prado" (October 25, 2008 - January 4, 2009). The exhibit includes sketches by Michelangelo and many of his friends including biographer Giorgio Vasari as well as Andrea del Sarto. Many of these sketches had not been published before, too, so it includes some rarities.
Can't make it to Pittsburgh? The exhibit will move to the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (January 24 – April 5, 2009); and then to the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma (April 25 – July 5, 2009).
Lubin House (New York, NY): The Louise and Bernard Palitz Gallery at Syracuse University's Lubin House in Manhattan has an incredible exhibit: Michelangelo : the Man and the Myth. You know how I feel about Michelangelo . Well, this exhibit includes sketches, letters, and poems in his own hand. The collection comes from Casa Buonarroti in Florence and brings a bit of the great artist to the US. The exhibit opens in Manhattan on November 4 and runs through January 4, 2009.
There...
And if you are headed to Italy, here are a few places to add to your itinerary.
Palazzo Strozzi (Florence): Palazzo Strozzi is hosting an exhibit about Florence's most powerful women: Caterina and Maria de'Medici, Women in Power. (October 24, 2008 - February 8, 2009)
Chiostro del Bramante (Rome): The Myth of Julius Caesar is the first exhibit in Rome to focus on the Empire's most famous ruler. The exhibit runs through April 5, 2009.
National Archaeological Museum (Naples): the exhibit Herculaneum: Three Centuries of Discoveries uncovers the truth about Pompeii's less famous sister city. Now through April, 2009.
But the biggest news of all...
"Madonna of the Goldfinch," a masterpiece by Raphael, is back on display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence! The piece has been under restoration for more than 10 years, but it has now been cleaned, repaired, and is back on view. It's almost worth jumping on a plane just to go see it...
Ciao!