Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples

Opening today at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. is an extraordinary exhibit of artifacts from the excavations of Pompeii and its neighboring towns. Luxurious furniture, personal effects, and exquisite works of art were all buried in the eruption of August 23rd, 79 C.E. Among these artifacts are sculptures from the Villa of the Papyri which inspired the Getty Villa in Malibu. These objects are now on display (many for the first time ever in the U.S.) at the National Gallery until March 22nd when the exhibit will travel to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Today's Washington Post has a detailed article on the history of Pompeii and its excavations and an excellent slide show of some of the major works.

National Gallery of Art: Pompeii and the Roman Villa

Pompeii and the Roman Villa opens tomorrow, October 19, at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. The exhibit makes public several artifacts from recent excavations never on view in the U.S. before, as well as many well-known works from earlier excavations. The exhibit will also focus on the mosaics, frescoes and sculptures from the villas of wealthy Romans in the Bay of Naples that influenced much of the art of the 18th century. With the economy the way it is, it may be that a trip to the nation's capital is the closest we can get to Rome these days!

Parmigianino's Antea: A Beautiful Artifice

There has been much talk about an exhibition at the Frick Museum in New York City of Parmigianino's famous painting Antea (in the Economist and Vogue, among others). The painting depicts a mystery woman whose beauty and expression rivals da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Her dress indicates that she may have been a courtesan. In fact, the title of the painting, Antea, given almost one hundred years after Parmigianino created it, was also the name of a famous Roman courtesan who may have been involved with the artist. The painting is on loan to the Frick from the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples, Italy from January 29 to April 27, 2008.

de Medicis and Detroit

You may have read in the New York Times that Detroit is among the 53 Places to Go in 2008 (#40-and Rome wasn't even on the list!). The newly renovated Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the reasons that the city was included. In addition to impressive French, African and American collections, the museum houses extensive Medieval and Renaissance works from all over Europe. In particular, there is one gallery devoted to the patronage and influence of the Medici family. Not only was this Florentine banking family famous for its financial prowess, but many of its members married royalty (depicted is Eleonora of Toldeo by Agnolo Bronzini, 1550, member of the Spanish royal family who married Cosimo de Medici in 1539) and even became cardinals and popes. Countless artists in Renaissance Florence and Rome flourished through their support. The DIA gallery not only depicts portraits of various members of the family, but also objects from the workshops of the many artists, such as Donatello, who enjoyed the backing of the Medicis. Don't miss the models of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's fountains for Piazza Barberini in Rome and the exhibit on the "The Grand Tour," which portrays the journeys that wealthy young men would take to Italy in the 18th century-and the paintings and sculptures they brought home with them. Naturally, don't forget to visit the Classical gallery, where you will find Roman jewelry and Greek vases (and a demonstration of mixing wine with water, a necessity for those strong ancient vintages).

Getty Villa in Malibu, California

If you can't get to Italy but can get to Southern California, don't miss the Getty Villa in Malibu. Recently renovated and completely refurbished, the Getty Villa exclusively houses antiquities from Ancient Greece and Rome. The collections are just half of the attraction. The museum itself is an exact replica of the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum which was destroyed in the 79 CE eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The Villa is decorated with exquisite marble floors, walls, decorative ceilings and immaculate gardens, all inspired by ancient Roman originals from around the Mediterranean. You have to make a reservation to visit the Villa, so be sure to call ahead at least a few weeks in advance. Go as soon as the doors open to avoid the crowds that will be sure to be there by mid-day.
Getty Villa