Currently drawings and paintings from the British contemporary artist Jenny Saville are in exhibit at five museums in Florence. It’s the HAPPENING of the art scene here. Her art is juxtaposed next to the Renaissance masters, comparing and contrasting the theme of motherhood as well as nudes and female faces. She is the only “She” artist represented in the room; Renaissance art just got real! The comparisons ties the art of the Masters to one of our greatest living artists. Each work from both the Masters and Saville, side by side, has added to their depth and meaning. This is a journey not to be missed.
If you are in Florence this exhibit will continue through February 20, 2021. My suggestion is to start in the Museo Novecento to get an appreciation of Saville and her figurative and portrait art. Do not discard your ticket for it will be useful in the other four museums that are part of this expansive exhibition. This link will provide you with the hours, days and discounted prices of the Museums. http://www.museonovecento.it/en/jenny-saville-orari-e-biglietti-dei-musei-coinvolti-nella-mostra/
At the Novecento there are 70 drawings and paintings of the artist, with 30 more, spread across the other four venues.
Once completing your visit to the Novecento, visit the other four museums in any order.
The Museo degli Innocenti, was next on my journey. Here with Botticelli, Luca Della Robbia, Saville shows us her motherhood. So fitting to see these in the former Orphanage of the Innocents.
At the Casa Buonarotti the theme of motherhood continues including the Jenny Saville’s study for Pieta V as well as Mother and Child drawings from Michelangelo and Saville
In the Salone dei Cinquecento located in Palazzo Vecchio, Saville’s “Fulcrum” is displayed amid sculptures of the Renaissance and the great murals of Vasari’s massive men in battle. In Fulcrum we see a mountain of naked women.
The last visit on my Saville journey was to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Beside Michelangelo’s marble Pieta, a larger than life drawing of Saville’s family in the same entwined pose.
My hope is that this expansive and important exhibit will be extended past February 20 so visitors to Florence in the Spring can view it. Also important to remember that these five museums should be on the top of anyone’s list of attractions when coming to Florence. There are impressive works of art in the permanent collections of all these museums. You will be moved.
Truly, one does not need to wait on a line for hours (the Uffizi and Academia) to see GREAT museums in Florence. My all time favorites here are, the Innocenti and the Duomo. You can view my past posts on the Museo degli Innocenti https://wordpress.com/post/fondlyfromflorence.com/1018 and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo https://wordpress.com/post/fondlyfromflorence.com/615
Happy travels!
fondlyfromflorence&beyond 