Bellini and Perugino meet in New York – World – Arte.it

World – The personal study of the financier and collector J. Pierpont Morgan, the heart of history Morgan Library & Museum By New Yorkis the set of dialogue between two great masters of Italian Quattrocento. The first is Giovanni Belliniended up in the Big Apple with the powerful and melancholy people Sympathy of the Museum of the city of Riminithe second is Pietro di Cristoforo Vannucci, better known as the Perugianwhich will reach the American museum from February 7 with theImage of piety coming from National Gallery of Umbriaafter five days of exhibiting at Sotheby’s headquarters in New York in anticipation of Old Master’s Week. Around them Renaissance paintings and sculptures belonging to Pierpont Morgan’s fantastic collection, including the Madonna with saints John the Evangelist and Magdalene out of worship of the Child by Perugino himself, in an exhibition that will continue until April 19, while another room of the same museum offers the American public the very rare opportunity to experience abroad the Young man with fruit basket By Caravaggioon loan from Borghese Gallery.Back to its former glory through a complete restoration carried out with the support of Venetian Heritage, the Sympathy by Bellini is a melancholic and powerful tempera painting on wood, in which child angels support a lifeless Christ, while they view his wounds and prepare him for veneration. Unlike other versions of the subject, the angels do not cry desperately: on the contrary, the work is emotional precisely because of their thoughtful attitude. “Our setup, he explained Colin B. Bailey, director of Morgan Library & Museum – shows visitors how Bellini was inspired by the tradition of Byzantine icons when painting his dead Christ, and then innovated the subject by combining a profound spirituality with the humanistic dimension derived from classical art”.

Perugino, Imago Pietatis (cyma of the altarpiece of the Decemviri), 1495, tempera on wood, Perugia, National Gallery of Umbria

Even theImage of piety by Perugino shows Jesus dead in the tomb, with his eyes closed and his head bowed, emphasizing his wounds. The painting, which retains the original frame, was created as a coping for the Pala of the god of Decembercreated by the Renaissance master for the Chapel of the Priors in Perugia and now to the Vatican Museums. It was torn apart in 1797 by Napoleon’s troops, who demanded to take it to Paris, forgetting part of it. The exposure to the Morgan is due to the contribution of Friends of Umbriaa newly established American organization supporting the National Gallery of Umbria.

“This path – said the director of the Perugian museum Costantino D’Orazio – aims to project Umbria’s state museums beyond national borders, broadening the audience base of countries that have always been sensitive to the history, art and charm of our culture and heritage. In this way, in the wake of the great international museums, which have long ago traveled this route, our cultural places will also be able to benefit from extraordinary funds and act as a driving force behind the attractiveness of the entire territory.’ Awaiting the big exhibition Raphael: Sublime poetrywhich will take you from March 29 to June 28, 2026 from the National Gallery of Umbria to Metropolitan Art Museum of New York masterpieces such as the Our Lady of Consolation of Perugino and the processional standard Saint Augustine and other characters by Pinturicchio, while in October the Flagellation of Christ by Francesco di Giorgio Martini will be presented within the exhibition dedicated to the fifteenth-century painter, sculptor and architect from Frick Collection.

Perugino, Madonna with Saints John the Evangelist and Magdalene adoring the Child, circa 1500. Tempera on panel. Morgan Library & Museum, New York

Also read:
• Raphael conquers New York
• Giotto and Saint Francis. In the National Gallery of Umbria the story of a revolution