Caravaggio and the twentieth century between Roberto Longhi and Anna Banti, the exhibition in Florence

Florence is preparing to host Caravaggio and the Twentieth Century. Roberto Longhi, Anna Banti, an exhibition that, from March 27 to July 20, will transform Villa Bardini into a crossroads of art history, literature and culture. Curated by Cristina Acidini and Claudio Paolini, the exhibition is promoted by the Fondazione CR Firenze in collaboration with the Longhi Foundation.

The exhibition is meant to be a journey through the lives of Roberto Longhi and Anna Banti, a couple who left an indelible mark on 20th-century culture. He, an art historian and refined critic, rediscovered Caravaggio and the masters of seventeenth-century Italy. She, a writer and translator, gave voice to forgotten female artists, foremost among them Artemisia Gentileschi. Together they animated a coterie of intellectuals that shaped the Italian and international cultural landscape.

The exhibition occupies all the spaces of Villa Bardini: the exhibition itinerary unfolds in 12 rooms, dense with rare and often unpublished materials. Highlights include masterpieces such as Caravaggio’s Ragazzo morso da un ramarro (Boy Bitten by a Lizard ), Jusepe de Ribera ’s Apostles and a precious sequence of 10 works by Giorgio Morandi, created for Longhi and Banti.

But the exhibition is not limited to paintings. The display includes archival documents, photographs, drawings and watercolors, which tell the story of the couple’s network of friendships and influences. Longhi and Banti dialogued with personalities such as Ungaretti, Bassani, Pratolini, Gadda, Pea, Bigongiari and Pasolini, while among the artists who frequented their home the names of de Pisis, Socrates, Guttuso, Mafai and Morandi himself stand out.

A timeless cultural legacy

In the spaces of Villa Bardini one breathes the atmosphere in which Longhi revolutionized art history. It was he who, in 1951, dedicated a memorable exhibition to Caravaggio at Milan’s Palazzo Reale, bringing the 17th-century painter back into the spotlight after centuries of oblivion. The success was enormous: more than 400,000 visitors rediscovered the greatness of the Lombard master, paving the way for his consecration as an icon of universal painting.

At the same time, Anna Banti devoted her efforts to literature and art popularization, giving back a voice to women excluded from art history. Her book "Artemisia," inspired by the painter Artemisia Gentileschi, remains to this day an indispensable reference for the rediscovery of women artists of the past.

Longhi and Banti were not only scholars but also passionate popularizers. Their mission was to take art beyond academic circles, making it accessible to all. The exhibition offers a concrete example of this through two period documentaries, in which Longhi recounts the greatness of Carpaccio and Carrà, testifying to his extraordinary talent for communication.

For those who want a moment of respite, the itinerary also includes a Silent Room, a space dedicated to reflection and resting the mind. In addition, Villa Bardini offers the opportunity to stroll through its historic park, embellished with centuries-old trees and the famous monumental wisteria, one of the oldest in Europe. Its spectacular spring bloom attracts thousands of visitors every year.

The exhibition is also a tribute to the legacy of the Roberto Longhi Foundation, which is based in Florence’s splendid Villa Il Tasso. Whole generations of art historians have been trained here, keeping the great scholar’s method and critical approach alive.

Practical information

The exhibition is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (closed Monday). The full ticket costs 10 euros, while reduced tickets are available at 5 euros for groups, young people between 18 and 24, members of Touring Club Italiano, FAI, Unicoop and for visitors to the Boboli-Bardini Gardens. Admission is free for children up to 17 years old, people with disabilities and accompanying persons, journalists, tour guides and Firenze Card holders. For schools, the visit is free with mandatory reservation at call center 055 2989816.

Caravaggio and the twentieth century between Roberto Longhi and Anna Banti, the exhibition in Florence

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