IT22 Visit to the National Gallery of Cosenza

The students visit the National Gallery of Cosenza, located in Palazzo Arnone, the largest late Renaissance building in the city, a symbol of civil and political power since the vice-regal area (1500-1734). In its exhibition spaces there is a path that shows significant moments of art from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century with works by painters born in Calabria, such as Pietro Negroni, Marco Cardisco, Francesco Cozza and Neapolitan artists who influenced local painting. Of great interest is the nucleus made up of the works of two protagonists of the seventeenth century: the Calabrian Mattia Preti and the Neapolitan Luca Giordano. There is also a section of graphic works about Umberto Boccioni (from 1906 to 1915), from his formative years to his full futurist success. Thanks to donations and purchases, the museum's collection includes sculptures by Umberto Boccioni, Giorgio de Chirico, Emilio Greco, Antonietta Raphaël, Pietro Consagra,Mimmo Rotella, Bizhan Bassiri. The students see the futuristic sculpture Man in Motion by the artist Umberto Boccioni, which is depicted on the 20 cent coins. The Gallery also hosts numerous temporary exhibitions over the years. The students discovered the Superecologic! exhibitions, whose theme invites us to reflect on our consumer society and thus denounces its excesses.

Students have discovered the pictorial history of Calabria and they were able to become aware of their common heritage. Despite the language barrier, the common cultural heritage remains the most important.