Capodimonte, move to Texas for masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian

After the exhibition that brought Jan Vermeer ’s The Lute Player from the Metropolitan Museum in New York to the Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte in Naples, now the Neapolitan institution reciprocates (for the second time, after sending some works to the recently concluded Metropolitan exhibition) by sending to the U.S. a large body of works that bring to life the exhibition Michelangelo and the Vatican: masterworks from the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte, which opened on March 11 and will run through June 10, 2018. The exhibition takes place at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and displays as many as twenty-three works from the Capodimonte Museum (nineteen drawings and four paintings) that, along with seventeen other works from other institutions, investigate the relationship between Michelangelo and the Vatican.

Many of the works on display at the Texas exhibition, in particular, were commissioned or completed during the papacy of Paul III, who was in office when Michelangelo completed the Last Judgment: the exhibition also displays the copy of the Judgment painted in oil by Marcello Venusti as well as two cartoons (a Group of Armigers and a Venus and Cupid) shown at the recent New York exhibition. Along with Michelangelo’s works, works by Raphael, Rubens, Tintoretto and Titian are also present in Houston, including two portraits of Paul III executed by Raphael and Titian (Raphael’s, in particular, depicts him still as a cardinal) and also coming from the National Museum of Capodimonte. And again, the last painting among those from Capodimonte is a copy of Michelangelo’s Venus and Cupid More information about the exhibition can be found on the website of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Image: Marcello Venusti (from Michelangelo), Last Judgment (1549; tempera grassa on panel, 188.5 x 145 cm; Naples, Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte)

Capodimonte, move to Texas for masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.