Fede Galizia, admirable painter

03/07/2021 - 24/10/2021

The exhibition, Fede Galizia, admirable painter at the Castello del Buonconsiglio presents about 80 works by the Trentino painter who worked mainly in Lombardy, which stand out for their elegance and attention to detail, charged with cryptic symbolism, derived from the familiarity acquired with her father who made costumes and accessories. The painting Judith with the head of Holofernes, preserved at the Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, illustrates an episode of the Old Testament in which Judith saves the city of Bethulia besieged by the Assyrians led by King Nebuchadnezzar, killing the general Holofernes. The painting was made in 1596, as indicated on the blade of the knife, and depicts the heroic protagonist wearing an aristocratic dress and in line with the fashion of his time. Over the white shirt, symbol of purity, low-cut and finished with a ruffled "lettuce", she wears a "corset" fastened in front, supported on the shoulders by an embroidered border that adorns the neckline, softly draped like the skirt ("sottana"). A shiny silver-grey satin brocaded in gold with stylized floral and vegetable motifs is used, appreciated throughout Europe and the pride of Italian textile manufacturers. The magnificence of the jewels worn by the seductive Judith highlight the splendor and variety of the clothes of the late '500, as well as ornaments embellished with gems, pearls set on heavy gold frames enriched with chisels, niello and enamel. Giuditta on the curled hairstyle exhibits precious jewels with gems, round pearls and two teardrop-shaped on the forehead, like those of the earrings and the necklace. Precious and refined is the bracelet and sword handle where balasci, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, pearls and mounts reveal geometric, vegetal and floral decorations that match the silky and golden embroidered borders. (The description of the dress and jewels is by Paolo Peri, art historian and expert in textile art and costume)   INFO: Trento, Castello del Buonconsiglio, until 24 October 2021 tel. 0461-233770 www.buonconsiglio.it; info@buonconsiglio.it