Leonardo-Raffaello loans, Franceschini: unique opportunity. Riester: duty to circulate works

According to Cultural Heritage Minister Dario Franceschini, who signed today with his French counterpart Franck Riester the agreement to exchange Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael loans between Italy and France for exhibitions marking the 500th anniversaries of the two artists’ deaths, the loans will be “an extraordinary occasion.” The minister said that “Leonardo and Raphael will be remembered at the European level, as well as worldwide, with two major exhibitions, respectively in Paris (in 2019) and Rome (in 2020) is a demonstration of something that is not only national but is global.” And again, Franceschini added, “today more than ever it is essential that culture be at the center of European policies, both because it is a vehicle for building common citizenship and because it is a great opportunity for economic growth.”

He was echoed by Riester: “the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael belong to humanity.” The French culture minister then stressed that “it is the duty of Italy and France to circulate them when technical conditions allow.”

Among the works that Italy will lend to France are theVitruvian Man and the three studies for the Battle of Anghiari from the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice, the Scapiliata from the Galleria Nazionale in Parma, and several drawings from the Uffizi including the very famous Landscape Study (inv. 8P) from 1473 (it is the first known work by the Tuscan artist) and the copy of the Battle of Anghiari on deposit at the Museo di Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Verrocchio’sIncredulity of Saint Thomas, from the Orsanmichele Museums, will then also leave for Paris.

In return, Italy will receive a number of Raphael’s works for an exhibition to be held in 2020 at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome: these include the Portrait of Baldassarre Castiglione,Self-Portrait with a Friend, and five drawings. In total, France will lend seven works to Italy, while seven more works covered by the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Franceschini and Riester will leave from Italy for France, plus another fourteen that will be lent to France by Italian state museums. On this page we have published the complete list of works that will be exchanged. The protocol signed by Italy and France stipulates that the duration of the loans will be determined by the museums because of the conditions under which the works are transported and displayed.

Pictured: Franck Riester and Dario Franceschini at the signing of the agreement.

Leonardo-Raffaello loans, Franceschini: unique opportunity. Riester: duty to circulate works

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