Until January 6th, the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo showcases Arte e Natura, an exhibition curated by Patrizia Cavazzini in collaboration with Maria Luisa Pacelli, dedicated to stone painting between the 16th and 17th centuries. This practice explores the fascinating interplay between nature and artifice, between subject and material. From Rome to Florence, from Genoa to the Veneto, prominent artists embraced this technique, most of whom are featured in the exhibition.

Among the treasures on display is a work which once passed through our hands, and which we are delighted to see included here: Alessandro Turchi, called l’Orbetto, Cleopatra. This previously unknown painting, today part of the G&R Etro Collection, significantly enriches the recently compiled corpus, shedding new light on Turchi’s early Roman period. Painted on slate, it translates the famous Roman statue known as Ariadne Sleeping (historically misidentified as Cleopatra). Dated around 1617, the work testifies to Turchi’s profound engagement with classical sculpture upon his arrival in Rome.