For the sixth consecutive year, Eni is giving an exceptional Christmas gift to the people of Milan. With the Municipality of Milan and the Vatican Museums, Eni continues the tradition of displaying a masterpiece at the Palazzo Marino, at no extra cost.
After the positive reception of the Amore e Psiche, which was the most visited exhibition in Italy in 2012, this year, it will be possible to view Raphael’s La Madonna di Foligno for the first time in Milan at the Vatican Museums. The masterpiece will be on display from November 28, 2013 to January 12, 2014.
The exhibition aims to give visitors the possibility of deepening their understanding of this extraordinary work and has been integrated with a range of educational and participation-based activities in the room, as well as through accompanying events and free online resources.
“Through bringing Raphael to Milan, Eni is reiterate rating the value of culture as a key element of the Company’s interaction with the area,” stated Paolo Scaroni, Eni’s CEO. “Our exhibitions have enabled these masterpieces the necessary environment for visitors to fully appreciate such works of art. The long queues of people patiently waiting in line over these five years indicate the pubilc appreciation of these events and the cultural enrichment they provide.”
“This work is one of the apex of universal painting,” commented Antonio Paolucci, Director of the Vatican Museums. “It documents a historic moment (c.1511-13) in which Raphael meets Venetian color and you can’t get any better than this! It’s not possible to go beyond this in terms of representation of beauty as I’m sure the guests of the Palazzo Marino will understand.”
“It’s always emotional receiving works of art of such cultural value at the Palazzo Marino and being able to offer them to the city. Thanks to the collaboration with Eni and the great museums around the world, this meeting with culture is renewed for the sixth consecutive year,” commented Giuliano Pisapia, Mayor of Milan. “Citizens, tourists, scholars and young people can admire Raphael’s La Madonna di Foligno, made available by the Vatican Gallery at no extra cost. The work will remain on display in the Sala Alessi for more than a month in order to make it possible for visitors to come into contact with one of the greatest masterpieces of Raphael, one of the most celebrated painters in history.”
Masterpieces from previous editions were: La Conversione di Saulo by Caravaggio (from the Odescalchi collection), San Giovanni Battista by Leonardo da Vinci (in 2009), Tiziano’s Donna allo specchio (2010), Adorazione dei pastori and San Giuseppe falegname by Georges de La Tour (2011), and Amore e Psiche stanti by Antonio Canova and Psyché et l’Amour by François Gérard (2012) (from the Louvre).