Early compared to the opening of the tenth edition of the International ceramics festival, which will be held in the Montelupo city centre from the 22 to the 30 June, the first of June saw the opening in Florence, in palazzo Medici Riccardi, of the exhibition «Capolavori della maiolica rinascimentale. Montelupo fabbrica di Firenze 1400-1630» (Renaissance majolica masterpieces. Montelupo factory of Florence 1400-1630).
Earth water and fire. This is what ceramic is made of. One of the most natural products you can imagine, and yet ceramics, in the hands of able craftsmen and artists often becomes a precious material, and Montelupo Fiorentino knows quite a lot about this, having founded its history and fortune on this craft.
The Florentine exhibit collects 80 pieces from private collections and museums all over the world. Set up according to a chronological trail, the exhibition illustrates the evolution of majolica in Montelupo: from the influences of the Islamic tradition which can be found in the strong decorative nature of the ceramics dated 1400 until the figurativeness of the late five hundreds, years in which there were important relations between Montelupo and the de' Medici family.
In those years Montelupo's ceramists became chroniclers and bards of Medicean deeds, who are often found in the large adorned plates, and became artistic reference points for many European production centres especially in Belgium and Holland. «Masterpieces of renaissance majolica», the result of a thirty year long archaeological and historical research work, is surely the year's event for Montelupo and one of the most important for the palazzo Medici Riccardi in its role as «artistic container».
Capolavori della maiolica rinascimentale
Where: Palazzo Medici Riccardi via Cavour - Florence
When: 1 June - 27 October
Tickets: 4 euro, 2.50 conc. Price includes the visit to the Palazzo and the Cappella de' Magi with frescoes of Benozzo Bozzoli. Also with the same ticket you can visit the Montelupo Museum, for the whole duration of the exhibit, at a reduced price, 2.50 euro or purchase the International ceramics festival (22-30 June) at a reduced price (2.50).
Opening times: 0900 - 1900 everyday except Wednesday
Info: Municiaplity of Montelupo tourist information tel. +39 0571 518 993 - ticket office Palazzo Medici Riccardi tel. +39 055 276 0340
June.2002
Renaissance majolica masterpieces
Montelupo Ceramics Museum
Palazzo Medici Riccardi
0571Village.net (In Italian)
