From November 12, 2026, to July 4, 2027, the Fondazione Accademia Carrara in Bergamo is dedicating an exhibition to Federico Zeri (Rome, 1921 – Mentana, 1998) : “Federico Zeri.” A personal diary, this project brings together an exhibition-workshop, a digital scholarly catalog, and a series of lectures. The initiative explores the figure of one of the 20th century’s most important art historians and connoisseurs, as well as his relationship with the museum in Bergamo. The exhibition begins with the donation made by Zeri in 1998, when the scholar bequeathed 46 sculptures from his own collection—varying in material, period, and context of production—to the Accademia Carrara. Centered around this core collection, the exhibition reconstructs his working method, his curiosity, and his unique way of viewing artworks through sculptures, books, photographs, documents, videos, and archival materials organized into four sections.
One section is dedicated to the sculptures and research included in the new scholarly catalog; another to the paintings in the Carrara collection on which Zeri offered new attributions and interpretations. Also featured are his library and radio broadcasts, which document his work as a scholar and popularizer, as well as the Dutch paintings donated to the Carrara by Giovanni“ ” Morelli, a pioneer in art history, for which Zeri edited the catalog. Particular attention is given to restoration, with analyses, materials, and decisions that accompany the work on the artworks. The exhibition is, in fact, conceived as a journey “behind the scenes” of the museum: works from the storage areas, research, and restoration projects allow visitors to follow the work of the Accademia Carrara team on the themes of interpretation, conservation, and public engagement, in a “worksite” of cultural heritage where new knowledge and practices are shared as they evolve.
On November 12, to mark the opening, the digital scholarly catalog *The Sculptures of the Federico Zeri Collection*, edited by Paolo Plebani, will also be presented. It was produced by the Accademia Carrara in collaboration with the Federico Zeri Foundation, with the support of the Associazione Amici di Federico Zeri and a contribution from the Fondazione Banca Popolare di Bergamo. Rounding out the project is a series of lectures, scheduled for November 12, December 10, 2026, and January 14, 2027, dedicated to Zeri’s work, his relationship with the Accademia Carrara, and his legacy in art history studies.
Finally, “Federico Zeri: A Personal Diary” is part of“ n the Making,” one of the new chapters in the Accademia Carrara’s 2026–2028 program, which brings together projects dedicated to the very concept of the museum through the institution’s diverse professional disciplines. Research, restoration projects, and new developments are shared as they unfold, offering a glimpse into the activities taking place beyond the exhibition halls.
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| An exhibition in Bergamo explores the life of Federico Zeri through the works in his collection |
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