Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Hunts of the Grand Dukes (Poggio a Caiano, 12/18/10-5/8/11)

The Hunts of the Grand Dukes
Two tapestries from the celebrated series made for the Villa of Poggio a Caiano
from Dec. 18, 2010 until May 8, 2011

"The exhibition, which opens on 18 December, displays the recently restored large tapestry made to a design by Alessandro Allori showing the Swan Hunt, and the large tapestry showing the Wild Goose Hunt, again to a design by Alessandro Allori, which has been subject to conservative maintenance for the occasion.
The two tapestries both belong to the Florentine State Museums; the first is normally conserved in the Villa of Poggio a Caiano and the second in the Tapestries Repository of Palazzo Pitti, which is managed by the Costume Gallery of Florence.
Datable around 1577-78, the two tapestries are part of a famous series commissioned by the Grand Duke Cosimo I and by the Grand Duke Francesco I to adorn the Villa of Poggio a Caiano. This show makes it possible to display to the public two works of outstanding quality that are not normally available for viewing, and also to document the history of the Hunts series and its restoration through graphics and informative panels."

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