The public therefore tries to read ‘naturally’, a painter who tried to be ‘natural’, understandable, human, more than humanistic, in a word, popular!
Roberto Longhi 1951
Curated by Cristina Acidini and Claudio Paolini, this exhibition, promoted by Fondazione CR Firenze in collaboration with Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi, is more than just an art show—it is an immersive journey into the lives of two extraordinary figures: Roberto Longhi, art historian, and Anna Banti, writer and translator. Together, they created a cultural hub that shaped the artistic and intellectual landscape of the 20th century.
Housed in the stunning Villa Bardini, the exhibition features an extensive and meticulously curated selection of artworks, many previously unseen. The experience extends beyond the museum walls, allowing visitors to explore the villa’s historic gardens, home to one of Europe’s oldest wisteria trees, which blooms spectacularly each spring.
The exhibition includes Caravaggio’s “Boy Bitten by a Lizard”, Jusepe de Ribera’s “Apostles”, and a rare series of ten intimate works by Giorgio Morandi, gifted over the years to Longhi and Banti. In total, 40 paintings, along with drawings, watercolors, archival photographs, and documents, highlight the couple’s close relationships with key literary and artistic figures such as Ungaretti, Bassani, Pratolini, Gadda, Pasolini, De Pisis, Guttuso, and Mafai.
Longhi’s groundbreaking 1951 Caravaggio exhibition at Palazzo Reale in Milan, which drew over 400,000 visitors, played a pivotal role in reviving interest in the Italian Baroque master. Likewise, Banti’s work on Artemisia Gentileschi contributed significantly to the re-evaluation of women artists in art history. Both were passionate about making art accessible, engaging with popular media, television, and radio, a legacy reflected in the exhibition’s multimedia content, including two documentary films by Longhi—one on Vittore Carpaccio, the other on Carlo Carrà. As dedicated mentors, Longhi and Banti’s influence continues through the Fondazione Roberto Longhi, headquartered at Villa Il Tasso in Florence, where generations of art historians have trained. This exhibition celebrates their enduring cultural impact, bringing together masterpieces, historical documents, and multimedia experiences to tell an unparalleled story of art, history, and passion.
Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. – 7.30 p.m., Monday closed
Tickets
Full 10 euro; Reduced 5 euro for: Groups of more than 10 people, EU youth aged 18 to 24, Italian Touring Club members, FAI, Unicoop members, Boboli-Bardini Gardens full-price ticket holders. Free for: Children up to 17 years old, disabled people and their escorts, journalists, tourist guides, Firenze Card holders; school classes including two teachers with reservation at Firenze Musei call centre 055 2989816.
© 2025. All content on this magazine is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by Roberto Longhi Foundation or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only
Leave a comment