The painting Fruit, Dish, Bottle and Violin (1914) by Pablo Picasso, owned by the National Gallery in London, has arrived at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea.
The painting will be on display in Rome until 19 January as part of the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery in London. Picasso’s work has been loaned in exchange for Vincent van Gogh’s L’Arlésienne (Portrait of Madame Ginoux) from the GNAM collection, which travelled across the Channel to take part in the exhibition Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers.
The GNAM is dedicating a gallery to the great artist Pablo Picasso, where five other works will also be on display: The Dream and Lie of Franco, Plate I, 1937; The Dream and Lie of Franco, Plate II, 1937; Bacchanal with Minotaur, 1933; Model at the Easel (Jacqueline at the Easel), 1956; and Pablo Picasso’s Stylised Head in Oval.
“A significant testament to the evolution of Cubist aesthetics in Picasso, the painting appears at first sight to be entirely abstract,” explained Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery. “On closer inspection,” Finaldi continued, “several recognisable objects emerge: a table (the outline of a leg appears just to the right of Picasso’s signature), a tablecloth with grey tassels, the strings and neck of a violin, a newspaper (including the letters ‘AL’ from ‘JOURNAL’) and, at the top, a dish of fruit.”
“The GNAM is proud to take part in the celebrations marking the National Gallery in London’s bicentenary,” concludes Director Cristina Mazzantini, “offering visitors an important new opportunity: to see a masterpiece by an artist, Pablo Picasso, who is rarely represented in Italian public collections.” Mazzantini adds: “Both distinguished by a majestic colonnade, the National Gallery in London and the Galleria Nazionale in Rome have, since their foundation and to this day, played the important role of collecting and introducing the art of the great international masters to audiences in their respective countries.”
The exhibition is supported by Aon, a leading company in insurance broking and risk management consultancy, which has long been committed to promoting art and initiatives that support the country’s artistic and cultural heritage.
WORKSHOPS AND GUIDED TOURS CALENDAR
From 5 October to 21 December, every Saturday at 4.30 pm
Laboratori del pensare, creare e sognare
PABLO PICASSO: FRUIT, DISH, BOTTLE AND VIOLIN
The exceptional loan from the National Gallery offers an opportunity to encounter Pablo Picasso at close range and discover the secrets of his revolutionary practice. In the gallery, participants discover Cubism and look closely at masterpieces by its leading representatives, Picasso and Braque. In the workshop, they experiment with their vision, learning to represent multiple viewpoints within a single gaze and incorporating fragments of reality into their own work through the collage technique.
Workshop for children aged 6 to 11
Participation fee: €10 per child
Booking required: prenotalagalleria@sistemamuseo.it; bookings close on Thursday at 12 noon.
Maximum: 25 participants. The activity will take place with a minimum of 6 participants.
From 4 October to 20 December, every Friday at 5.30 pm
MEZZ’ORA CON PICASSO
The exceptional loan from the National Gallery in London of Pablo Picasso’s Fruit, Dish, Bottle and Violin offers an opportunity to encounter the revolutionary Spanish artist at close range, comparing his 1914 Cubist painting with works from the Galleria Nazionale’s collection.
Participation fee: €5 per person, in addition to the admission ticket
Booking required: prenotalagalleria@sistemamuseo.it; bookings close on Wednesday at 12 noon.
Maximum: 25 participants. The tour will take place with a minimum of 6 participants.