Guercino: Early Paintings from Cento and Bologna at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York
So last night, I attended the opening reception of Baroque artist Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (known as “Guercino”, because he was cross-eyed) at the Italian Cultural Institute in NYC.
The small collection, which opens to the public today, has never before been exhibited in the U.S. The paintings are modest in ambition and subject, mainly illustrating pastoral scenes typical of the 17th century.
One painting did stand out though, and that was the “Madonna del Passero” (or Madonna of the Sparrow). The painting can be read as a Christian allegory about how God loves all creatures, even the smallest ones, like the sparrow. But it’s also a simple depiction of an intimate and tender moment shared between a young mother and her child.
Guercino's Madonna of the Sparrow
The exhibit, curated by Fausto Gozzi and Milena Naldi in Italy and Dr. Renato Miracco of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, will run from February 3 to March 2nd, 2009.
Guercino: Early Paintings from Cento and Bologna
Italian Cultural Institute
686 Park Avenue, New York, NY
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