Exhibition announcement
/Art & War in the Renaissance:
The Battle of Pavia Tapestries
Exactly 499 years ago, in the early morning of February 24, 1525, the Battle of Pavia was fought between the forces of the French King François I and Emperor Charles V. In order to celebrate his victory, a series of seven large tapestries was gifted to Charles V. They had been designed by Bernard van Orley and woven in the Brussels workshop of Willem and Jan Dermoyen.
The Capodimonte Museum in Naples, Italy, is pleased to announce an unprecedented traveling exhibition of the Battle of Pavia tapestries, which will be going to three U.S. cities. ‘Art & War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries' will first open at the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft.Worth, TX, and then travel to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA. A third U.S. venue is still to be announced.
Swiss captain Jean de Diesenbach seeks an honorable death by offering himself up to an imperial knight on horseback
“Capodimonte is excited to share these masterpieces with the American public for the first time. The exhibition will recreate the series’ panoramic and immersive view of the battlefield, highlighting the innovative design of these tapestries. The Farnese armory will evoke the conditions of the decisive Battle of Pavia in the wake of its 500th anniversary.”
Originally presented to Emperor Charles V in 1531, the tapestries depicting the battle were inherited by the Neapolitan d'Avalos family in the 1560s. The family sold the tapestries in the mid-eighteenth century, but reacquired the set in 1815. The works were donated to the Italian state in 1862. Never before has the complete series been lent to another museum. In addition to the seven enormous tapestries, the exhibition will also display a large collection of arms and armory, originally belonging to the Farnese family.
“The Battle of Pavia tapestries are, quite simply, one of the most important works of art created in northern Europe during the sixteenth century. If they had been made in fresco, they would be world renowned, but as tapestries they have been overlooked. The opportunity to view them on this US tour is unprecedented and not to be missed.”
THE SURRENDER OF KING FRANÇOIS I
American Friends of Capodimonte members are invited to exhibition opening events in San Francisco. The provisional dates for the trip are October 17-20, 2024. Director Emeritus and AFC Co-Founder, Sylvain Bellenger, is the co-curator of this exhibition and AFC Program Director, James Anno, is the Museum of Fine Arts Houston curator for the special exhibition. This trip will also offer the opportunity to meet the Capodimonte's new director, Eike Schmidt. For more information visit our AFC trips page or email us at: americanfriendsofcapodimonte@gmail.com.
THE FLIGHT OF THE LADIES AND SERVANTS
“The Battle of Pavia Tapestries are both important works of art and valuable records of history. The Kimbell is grateful to the Italian government, the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte, and The Museum Box for the unparalleled opportunity for our audiences to experience firsthand these spectacular examples of the most luxurious art form from Renaissance Europe. Our visitors will be enveloped in the world the tapestries depict.”
The exhibition schedule is as follows
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, TX: June 16, 2024 - September 15, 2024
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA: October 19, 2024 - January 12, 2025
A third U.S. venue will soon be announced for Spring 2025
Rizzoli will be publishing the exhibition catalog.
The exhibition trailer was made in collaboration with Modio Media.
For press inquiries: Cristina Del Sesto, AFC President: americanfriendsofcapodimonte@gmail.com