In Empoli the largest ever exhibition on Masolino da Panicale

In Empoli, on the occasion of the sixth centenary since the creation of the Cycle of the True Cross for the church of Santo Stefano, the Museo della Collegiata di Sant’Andrea and the church of Santo Stefano itself will be transformed into a stage dedicated to the figure of Masolino da Panicale (Panicale, 1383 - Florence, 1440/1447). From April 6 to July 7, 2024, in fact, the two venues will host the exhibition Empoli 1424. Masolino and the Dawn of the Renaissance, directed by Cristina Gelli and curated by Andrea De Marchi, Silvia De Luca and Francesco Suppa: an exhibition that offers an unprecedented display of Masolino da Panicale’s works, bringing together the largest corpus ever presented before.

The exhibition brings together works from Empoli and from renowned museum institutions, including the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, the Bargello Museum in Florence, the Pinacoteca Vaticana, the Musée Ingres in Montauban, the church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence, the Museo di Palazzo Venezia in Rome, the Museo di San Matteo in Pisa, and many others.

The exhibition aims to celebrate Masolino’s crucial role, along with Masaccio and Beato Angelico, in theinitiation and development of the Florentine Renaissance in the 15th century. Empoli, where Masolino lived a significant period of his career and left iconic works such as the Lamentation over the Dead Christ in the baptistery of the collegiate church of Sant’Andrea and other frescoes in the right transept of the church of Santo Stefano, was deemed an ideal venue for this event.

The main objective of this review is to offer a complete and in-depth view of the cultural context in which Masolino worked, presenting the works of other masters who shared his inclination toward new stylistic solutions. These include such illustrious names as Lorenzo Monaco, Gherardo Starnina, Giovanni Toscani and many others, who helped shape the Florentine artistic scene of the period. Visitors will therefore be able to immerse themselves in Masolino’s art and life, exploring his most famous and lesser-known works. The exhibition aims not only to highlight Masolino’s exceptional artistic talent, but also to provide a detailed overview of the cultural and artistic influences that shaped his work. Thanks to exceptional loans from museums and institutions around the world, visitors will have the opportunity to take a close look at masterpieces that are rarely displayed together. In addition, the exhibition will offer a series of side events, including lectures, seminars and workshops, to deepen understanding of Masolino’s work and the historical and cultural context in which he operated.

As anticipated, the exhibition is being held on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the completion of one of Masolino’s masterpieces, the cycle of frescoes with the Stories of the True Cross for the chapel of the Compagnia della Croce in the church of Santo Stefano degli Agostiniani in Empoli, completed precisely in 1424. Although only fragments and sinopites have survived to the present day, these remains represent crucial evidence of Masolino’s creative genius and his contribution at the dawn of the Renaissance.

The exhibition is promoted and organized by the City of Empoli and the Fondazione CR Firenze, under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the Region of Tuscany and the Metropolitan City of Florence, and represents an extraordinary opportunity to immerse oneself in the art of Masolino da Panicale. With the support of CEAM Group, AeA, Cerofolini srl, Fondazione SeSa, Sammontana spa, Unicoop Firenze, Ubics and the participation of Edison Network.

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Ticket offices at Museo della Collegiata, Piazzetta della Propositura 3, and Chiesa di Santo Stefano degli Agostiniani, Via dei Neri 15. Fees: full 13 euros, reduced 10 euros. Information, guided tours and education: Empoli Musei, tel. 0571 757563, email empolimusei@comune.empoli.fi.it, website www.empoli1424.empolimusei.it.

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Masolino, Lamentation over theChrist

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In Empoli the largest ever exhibition on Masolino da Panicale

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