Bronzino Rivelato. Segreti Di Tre Capolavori. Ediz. Inglese

"It is difficult to think of a painter more Florentine than Bronzino. The exhibition 'Bronzino. Artist and poet at the Court of the Medici' is a landmark, and the Palazzo Strozzi the perfect setting for the first ever monographic exploration of Bronzino's paintings. The exhibition will host a large selection of Bronzino's masterpieces, some of them on display together for the very first time. The exhibition has also made it possible to restore over a dozen works from museums around the world, thanks to which the visitor will be able to admire and to fully appreciate the extraordinary jewel-like quality of many of Bronzino's masterpieces, a quality which vied with enamel and precious stones, and which historical sources recognized as being a decisive factor in forging his reputation. Not only does restoration bring masterpieces back to life - there are often surprises lurking beneath the painted surface. Invisible to the naked eye, modern imaging techniques allow conservators to examine the painting using infrared and ultraviolet light and x-rays. By looking at the painting under several different wavelengths, conservators - like detectives - can reveal hidden evidence, such as under-drawings, "pentimenti", where the artist altered the finished image - and even whole new paintings never seen before! In the case of Bronzino's 'Venus, Cupid and Jealousy' (or 'Envy'), wholly new figures were discovered under the finished surface, opening a new chapter in the public appreciation of this Renaissance master. Debate, discussion and dialogue are at the core of a healthy civil society, and intelligent conversation is at the heart of a dynamic culture. In the museum or exhibition, we rarely go just to look. More often we talk about our looking - and our enjoyment of art is heightened by sharing our discoveries with others. Speaking about the role of the art museum in society, the American philosopher Nelson Goodman said that "works work when, by stimulating inquisitive looking, sharpening perception, raising visual intelligence, they participate in ... the making and re-making of our worlds". This book - and the conversation it records - is part of the ongoing discovery and rediscovery of our cultural heritage. Every reader is also a part of the process - so welcome to the conversation!" -- pages 7-9.