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Rating: Corot and Modern Art-Souvenirs et Impressions. Verona, Palazzo della Gran Guardia: November 27, 2009-March 7, 2010
"The last of the classics and the first of the moderns"
When discussing landscape painting, it is impossible not to encounter, sooner or later, the figure of Corot (1796-1875): a student of French Neoclassical masters such as Michallon and Bertin, he initially influenced the Impressionists. Pissaro and Sisley benefited from his teachings while Degas and Monet were his admirers, paving the way for "Plein Air" landscape painting. Subsequently, he also indirectly influenced the movements of the "fauves" and the cubists. A true Stakhanovite of theoretical learning, Corot absorbed all the principles of the great French classical landscape artists, especially Poussin and Lorrain. He spent various periods in Italy to capture, in detail and in general, the places and curiosities of what was then considered the most interesting landscape location in the world. He developed a technique that had nothing to envy from the great masters of the Neoclassical era but, starting from these bases, created a new artistic path, conducting endless studies on aspects, until then undervalued, such as decomposition and "restructuring" of forms, the use of color to give a vibrant soul to natural forms, a new expression of the concepts of light and dark, and above all, an emotional approach to depictions that anticipated symbolism and in many suggestions, even abstract art.
A beautiful agreement, unique for now in Italy, between the municipality of Verona and the Louvre, foresees the realization, on a multi-year level, of several exhibitions: "Corot and Modern Art" is the first of, hopefully, many initiatives that should bring many works of great interest to "our" country. Curated by Vincent Pomarède, this exhibition merits attention not only for saving landscape painting enthusiasts a trip to Paris but also, as we will see, further afield. It offers a broad approach and a philological setup that takes the visitor on an excursion of at least 5 centuries. The hundred or so paintings present, mainly from the Louvre and Orsay but also from other French museums and in some cases from the United States, are not, in fact, exclusively creations of Corot but start from where the artist took inspiration and extend to where his art managed to influence.
Thus, upon entering, one can see works by Carracci and the already mentioned Poussin and Lorrain, to be introduced to the classic concept of landscape. Thereafter, you are guided through the evolution of the great French artist, including, in some cases, direct comparisons between his works and those of other painters, "influential" or "influenced", from the beginnings to the technical and creative apex, concluding with the opportunity to admire works, which owe much to Corot, by Sisley, Monet, Cézanne, Picasso, and others: a true aesthetic, visual, and, allow me to say, also emotional journey, also aided by a decidedly appropriate musical background, suitable, thanks to some intelligent "finds," for the youngest, not too young of course, from 6 years old and up, and also for those unfamiliar with "painting".
A "material" detail but important: the price, as you will see in the link I will provide, is definitely affordable and leaves no room for excuses: missing this exhibition would be a shame, in the opinion of the writer.
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