The exhibition 'The Angeli Family. A Journey of Style, between Florence and America', is a show dedicated to the painting workshop of brothers Federigo, Alberto and Achille Angeli, active in Florence from 1910 to 1950.

 

The exhibition, promoted by Il Palmerino Cultural Association, was inaugurated on November 19, 2017, with curator Francesca Baldry, in the company of fellow art historians Cristina Acidini, Marilena Mosco and Giovanna Giusti and a number of the association's friends and neighbours. The participation of Giuliano Angeli, Federigo's son, who shared precious reflections and memories, was of particular note. The show was held in the small villa where Federigo (1891-1952) and his wife Carola Costa, 'Lola' (1903-2004), also a painter, lived. It is now home to Il Palmerino Cultural Association which has long been committed to promoting initiatives and events inspired by contemporary art production in dialog with the history and memory of the place, which is also linked to the memory of author Vernon Lee who lived there from 1898 to 1935, before the Angeli took up residence.

 

Where this 'journey' leads

 

The exhibition follows the three Angeli brothers, thanks to a reconstruction of their workshop, with paintings, sketches, wooden furniture, personal objects, historical photographs and unpublished documents, catalogued for the occasion by archivist Benedetta Gallerini. A unique exhibition opportunity it brings together these skilled craftsmen, who distinguished themselves as in-vogue painters, restorers and decorators, in their quest to imitate the work of medieval and Renaissance masters. They would become artist-advocates of the 'Made in Italy' style, exporting the idea, along with their craftsmanship, and it became all the rage, in their time. 

 

It is not by chance that the exhibition is held in response to the Roman exhibition entitled 'Voglia d'Italia' or 'Desire for Italy' which featured works from Rome during the reign of Italy's king Vittorio Emmanuelle II (December 7, 2017 to March 4, 2018), which celebrated the huge collection amassed by the Wurts, renowned US collectors. The Roman show which shone a light on the production of high craftsmanship in early twentieth century Italy included some 7 works by the Angeli Workshop.

 

Il Palmerino's exhibition is flanked by a series of meetings and conferences that explore the theme of Florentine art-related trades, from the start of the last century to the present day, with a particular focus on the many innovations characterising artistic production in that time period.

 

The programme is enriched by Il Palmerino's collaboration with Associazione Osservatorio Mestieri d'Arte (Observatory for Art-related Trades) whose 'trade school' initiative 'Hands4work', provides creative opportunities to young people in their third year of secondary school, at the Liceo Artistico Leon Battista Alberti, intent on organising a series of guided visits each Saturday, while the exhibition is on show.

 

In March, the project reaches out to a younger audience with tours designed for children and young people whose guiding concepts are 'fun' and 'immediacy'. At the same time, the calendar foresees workshops with Il Palmerino's artists in residence, and artistic creations crafted by students over the course of several months are on show starting March 24. "The intent is to create an exhibition-in-progress that can be updated gradually with projects by students from Florentine schools, as they work with international artists in residence" explains Federica Parretti, the organisation's president. "Therefore, the show is gradually transforming, during its six months of programming, as it takes on a different identity, thanks to on-going artistic 'contamination'. The project enables the creation of a 'construction site' of sorts, that opens onto the city which we hope will welcome this recent chapter of its age-old vitality with great interest."

​

The exhibition, promoted by Il Palmerino Cultural Association, was inaugurated on November 19, 2017, with curator Francesca Baldry, and fellow art historians Cristina Acidini, Marilena Mosco and Giovanna Giusti and  a number of the association's friends and neighbours. The participation of Giuliano Angeli, Federigo's son, who shared his precious reflections and memories, was of particular note. The exhibition was held in the villa where Federigo (1891-1952) and his wife Carola Costa, 'Lola' (1903-2004), also a painter, lived. It is now home to Il Palmerino Cultural Association which has long been committed to promoting initiatives and events inspired by contemporary artistic life in dialog with the history and memory of the place, which is also linked to the memory of author Vernon Lee who lived there from 1898 to 1935, before the Angeli took up residence.

​

The exhibition follows the production of the three Angeli brothers, through a reconstruction of their workshop, with paintings, sketches, wooden furniture, personal objects, historical photographs and unpublished documents, catalogued for the occasion by archivist Benedetta Gallerini. It depicts the work of these skilled craftsmen, who distinguished themselves as in-vogue painters, restorers and decorators, who strove to imitate the work of medieval and Renaissance masters, becoming advocate of the 'Made in Italy' style. They exported the idea, along with their craftsmanship, and it became all the rage, in their time.  

​

It was not by chance that the exhibition took place in response to the Roman exhibition entitled 'Voglia d'Italia' or 'Desire for Italy' which featured works from Rome during the reign of Italy's king Vittorio Emanuele II (December 7, 2017 to March 4, 2018), which celebrated the huge collection amassed by the Wurts, reknowned US collectors, spotlighting the production of high craftsmanship in the early twentieth century. The Roman show included some 7 works by the Angeli Workshop.
 

The exhibition is flanked by a series of meetings and conferences that explore the theme of Florentine art-related trades, from the start of the last century to the present day, with a particular focus on the innovative aspects characterising artistic production in this time period.

​

The progamme is enriched by Il Palmerino's collaboration with Associazione Osservatorio Mestieri d'Arte (Observatory for Art-related trades) which has engendered the initiative Hands4work, a tradeschool initiative involving young people in their third year of secondary school, at the Liceo Artistico Leon Battista Alberti, who will be organising a series of guided visit each Saturday throughout the course of the exhibition. 

​

In March, the project will reach out to a younger audience: visits will be aimed at children and young people as 'fun' and 'immediacy' become guiding concepts. At the same time, workshops will be held with Il Palmerino's artists in residence. Starting March 24, artistic creations crafted by the students in the previous months will be exhibited. "The intent," Federica Parretti, president of the organisation, explains, "is to create an exhibition-in-progress that can be updated gradually with projects by students from Florentine schools, as they work with international artists in residence. Therefore, during the show's six months of programming, it will be gradually transformed, taking on a identity thanks to on-going cultural 'contamination'. The project enables the creation of a 'construction site' of sorts, that opens onto the city which we hope will welcome this recent chapter of its age-old vitality with great interest."
 

Partners:
Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze

OMA osservatorio dei mestieri dell'arte

Atelier degli Artigianelli

Liceo artistico statale Leon Battista Alberti

Il Palmerino Cultural Association

Angeli Alberto Estate

Federigo Angeli Estate