The Barrié Foundation exhibits 52 masterpieces (34 paintings and 18 books) on loan from the Querini Stampalia Foundation.
Art has been historically used as a form of propaganda to promote the virtues of political systems, religions, and brands. The Republic of Venice, a global economic powerhouse since its inception in the 9th century, attempted to mask its decline by fostering a unique artistic movement. Renowned artists such as Tintoretto, Luca Giordano, Sebastiano Ricci, and Bellini captivated the world with their art. A significant portion of this movement’s work can be seen at the Barrié Foundation in A Coruña until July 14, in an exhibition titled «Gods and Heroes of Italian Baroque. From Tintoretto to Sebastiano Ricci.» The exhibition features 52 works (34 paintings and 18 books from the 16th to 18th centuries) on loan from the Querini Stampalia Foundation in Venice. Babet Trevisan, the chief curator of the collection, has divided the exhibition into six sections that narrate how art shaped the city known as the «wonder of wonders.» She reminds us that in 1486, the government established the role of public historian, chosen from the aristocracy, to create a pantheon of illustrious lay figures who defended the Republic’s freedom, autonomy, and Christian values. Mythology and allegory played a «state» role, serving the public narrative. In front of Luca Giordano’s San Sebastian, Trevisan comments on the taste for narratives that could be classified as noir genre for their pursuit of beauty within suffering. The search for the perfect body makes San Sebastian one of the most inspiring subjects for artists, with Giordano’s painting being a clear example. One of the most spectacular sections of the exhibition is dedicated to allegories, demonstrating how the ancient that is reborn in Europe thanks to Renaissance humanism is an invention, a free interpretation of personifications and complex allegorical figures. The main oil of this section could be Pietro Liberi’s «The Man Overwhelmed by Vices,» a moral lesson warning against the dangers of love, gambling, and wine. Two paintings by Padovadino, Liberi’s master, feature two beautiful girls approaching each other in a clearly sensual manner, representing the biblical verse «mercy and truth have met each other, righteousness and peace have kissed.» The exhibition also includes a video documenting the journey of the works chosen by the Barrié and Querini Stampalia Foundations, from Venice to A Coruña. The Querini family’s relationship with Spain began in 1768 when Giovanni Querini, the youngest of the dynasty, settled in Madrid as the ambassador of the Serene Republic of Venice. This diplomatic and cultural bridge between Venice and Madrid, established between the 16th and 18th centuries, facilitated the travel of artists and various artistic objects, a tradition that continues in A Coruña today.
