Exhibition by VINCENZO GEMITO
@MUSEO E REAL BOSCO DI CAPODIMONTE
on display until NOVEMBER 15th 2020
Vincenzo Gemito was a figurative sculptor born in Naples in 1852. Although considered as the most important Italian sculptor of late 19th century his origins were not so promising. He was a street-orphan adopted by a poor artisan and already assisting the sculptor Emanuele Caggiano aged nine. Gemito moved on to work with Stanislao Lista. After acquiring skills modelling clay and wax he independently exhibited a sculpture at Belle Arti di Napoli “Il Giocatore” (The Card Player) a Neapolitan urchin studying a hand of playing cards. The bronze-cast of the same work was purchased for the Capodimonte collection – Vincenzo Gemito was sixteen years old…
Commonly known in Naples as the crazy sculptor – “o’ scultore pazzo” Gemito was victim of a psychological collapse in 1887-1990 remaining a recluse and forced to take long pauses from creative activity – but continued to draw. He went back to sculpting in 1910 – eccentrically leaving realism to concentrate on mythological subjects. Gemito worked small-scale using precious metals in the 1920’s when he created portraits of Alexander the Great and Medusa.
Gemito passed away in Naples in 1929.
The current exhibition at Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte “Gemito dalla scultura al disegno” is a fantastic collection of over 150 works divided into 9 sections – co-organised with the Petit Palais in Paris, where it was on display last autumn.
The exhibition reveals his virtuosic realism and the strong thread of both love and madness in his thought.
The collection has been enriched with an addition of a number of unseen works recently acquired by the Capodimonte Museum from various private collections.
INFO: Museo di Capodimonte
is currently OPEN from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm
except Wednesdays (last admission by 6.30 pm)
Standard Ticket Fee: Euro 10
Special Open evenings Fridays
from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm
OCTOBER 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th 2020
ticket fee: Euro 1
Ticket reservation IS necessary – on line www.coopculture.it
and by App APPCULTURE MUSEO E REAL BOSCO DI CAPODIMONTE
Free download on AppStore and PlayStore. PlayStore:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.coopcultureitalia.app.capodimonte&hl=it
AppStore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/capodimonte/id1524460860
Admission to the Park Real Bosco di Capodimonte is free-of-charge
Opening times: October, February and March 7 am to 6 pm. November, December and January 7 am to 5 pm.
April, May, June, July, August and September 7 am to 7.30 pm.
Both the Park and Museum fully respect all anti-Covid19 regulations – to ensure the well-being and safety of all visitors and staff.
Getting there by public transport:
Capodimonte Shuttlebus Line A; Anm Bus Line 3M
For the complete article including current exhibitions on display at Capodimonte
(including “Nella Luce di Napoli” by Santiago Calatrava on display until January 31st 2021 – as highlighted last July 2020)
take-a-look at the October 2020 edition!
© MY COUNTRY MAGAZINE – October 2020 – page 9
