Cortona's double exhibition on the history of weapons from the Middle Ages to the 18th century

The Craft of Arms, the two-location exhibition in Cortona that examines the history of arms from the late Middle Ages to the 18th century, will be on view from Aug. 24 to Sept. 8, 2024, and is curated by Sergio Angori, Paolo Bruschetti and Paolo Giulierini. From the vaults of the Museum of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona, historical artifacts are on display at theauditorium Centro Convegni Sant’Agostino Via Guelfa 40 and the Exhibition Space Via Guelfa 47 in Cortona. The exhibition traces through extraordinary objects from the repositories of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona four centuries of the history of offensive and defensive weapons, moving from white to firearms. The initiative, the primary collateral event at Cortonantiquaria 2024, is organized with the Etruscan Academy of Cortona and the MAEC | Museum of the Etruscan Academy of Cortona, and is supported by the collaboration of the Moretti Costanzi Foundation of Tuoro and the University of Perugia. Inside the exhibition, it will be possible to appreciate thanks to paintings, reconstructions, and period prints, the great events of arms that affected Cortona, such as the sieges of King Laodislaus of Naples or the Prince of Oranges, up to the time of the Napoleonic invasion and the “Viva Maria,” as well as the evolutions of defense systems. Among the curiosities, in addition to the workings of arquebuses, are techniques of medical first aid for wounds sustained in clashes and books created to celebrate the art of war or that of Hippocrates.

“The collateral exhibition of this edition of Cortonantiquaria, after several years of exhibitions focused on the dialogue between ancient and contemporary, takes us to ancient history and scenarios of sieges and resistance, which from the Middle Ages until the arrival of Napoleon characterized the events of Cortona as of many cities in Italy, and which in our imagination take the form that art cinema has reconstructed for us. Today we will show what were in reality the instruments of defense and offense, whose ancient functional value is symbolic today,” comments Francesco Attesti, Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Cortona.

“The exhibition is an emblematic example of how important it is to make the most of the MAEC’s repositories and how we need to reconnect as much as possible with Cortona’s extraordinary heritage, composed of fine buildings, museums with exceptional works of art and artifacts, and cultural institutions of the highest profile,” stresses curator Paolo Giulierini.

“Thanks to a synergy with the Accademia Etrusca, and the curators who decided to show a nucleus of historical objects locked in the museum vaults, visitors can now see live tools, weapons, surprising materials. Alliances between institutions create that virtuous circle that makes it possible to bring high-level events to the public, which in this case are linked to history in response to the nature of Antiquaria itself,” says Fabio Procacci, president of Cortona Sviluppo.

Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 to 8 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:30 to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets: Full € 8.00 | Reduced € 5.00.

Cortona's double exhibition on the history of weapons from the Middle Ages to the 18th century

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