Novecento italiano. Opere dalla collezione Generali

Palazzo Bonaparte is hosting a major exhibition on 20th-century Italian art: over 50 masterpieces are on display free of charge, for a fascinating journey through extraordinary works, many of which are being exhibited for the very first time.

The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover one of the most significant artistic collections held by a European corporate institution. A collection that tells not only the story of the evolution of Italian art, but also the transformation of Italian society, its values and its identity throughout the last century.

The exhibition has been organised to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Generali Valore Cultura, the initiative launched by Generali Italia in 2016 with the aim of making artistic and cultural heritage increasingly accessible and inclusive.

Rich in atmosphere and emotion, the exhibition creates a compelling dialogue between art, history and collective memory through works by some of the leading figures of 20th-century Italian art, including Umberto Boccioni, Giorgio de Chirico, Gino Severini, Felice Casorati, Alberto Savinio, Antonio Donghi, Ubaldo Oppi, Filippo de Pisis, Mario Sironi, Massimo Campigli, Fausto Pirandello, Emanuele Cavalli, and many others.

Adding even greater prestige to an exhibition of exceptional quality is the presence of one of the true masterpieces of European painting: The Three Ages of Woman by Gustav Klimt, an iconic work exceptionally loaned by the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Roma.

The exhibition has been conceived as a visual narrative exploring some of the defining themes of the 20th century: modernity, landscape, personal identity, the human body, desire, memory and the collective dimension of society. Each of its six sections – Figure scomposte. Le avanguardie (Fragmented Figures. The Avant-Garde), Paesaggi dell'anima (Landscapes of the Soul), Figure in un interno (Figures in an Interior), Studi sul corpo umano. Gruppi di figure (Studies of the Human Body. Groups of Figures), Studi sul corpo umano. Figure isolate (Studies of the Human Body. Isolated Figures), and Focus: manifesti e foulard (Focus: Posters and Scarves) – explores a different aspect of this journey, allowing visitors to discover how artists interpreted their time through a wide range of styles, ideas and artistic sensibilities.

Novecento italiano. Opere dalla collezione Generali is curated by Costantino D'Orazio and produced by Arthemisia, under the patronage of the Ministero della Cultura, the Regione Lazio, and the Comune di Roma.