Marina Kulik studied Monumental Design and graduated in Drawing, Graphics and Painting. To earn a crust, she >>
Nice’s Beaux-Arts Museum Now Boasts Unique Masterpiece by Bronzino
BY Florence Dubosc FOR FR2DAY.COM Feb 7, 2012
Housed in a beautiful 19th-century private mansion and named after the artist Jules Chéret, who lived and worked on the French Riviera during his final years, the Beaux-Arts Museum in western Nice is one of the city's best little secret. Its collection includes paintings by Monet and Dufy, sculptures by Rodin and Carpeaux, ceramic pieces by Pablo Picasso and since last October it also boasts an unique piece by Bronzino, Crucified Christ.
This newly restored masterpiece by the Florentine painter was long thought to have been lost. It was commissioned by Bartolomeo and Lucrezia Panciatichi who were brought to trial in 1551 for heresy, and represents an almost sculptural portrayal of a lifeless Christ on the Cross that is both resplendent and mysterious, with a Renaissance chapel in the background.
Even though the artist used a corpse for his model, there is nothing graphic in the depiction of the scene which explains why the painting is seen as a key work to understanding the approach to reformed religion in Florence in the 1540s. It was indeed thought to be Lutheran to have a crucifixion that was used for meditation purposes rather than a way to recount the story of Jesus passion.
Born Agnolo di Cosimo to a Florentine butcher, Bronzino was one of the greatest artists in the history of Italian painting. Court artist to Cosimo de Medici, he was often commissioned to execute religious paintings even though he was not himself a religious man. His style prefigures that of Caravaggio and his school.
Crucified Christ has been part of the museum's collection since 1879 but for a long time it was thought to be the work of Fra Bartolomeo. It is only in 2005 that it was identified and attributed to Bronzino by Carlo Falciani and Philippe Costamagna. After a major restoration, it is now on display in Nice for the first time under the master's name and has become without doubt one the city's main masterpieces.
CONTACT DETAILS
Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret
33, avenue des Baumettes
06000 Nice
Telephone: 04.92.15.28.28
The museum is open 6 days a week (Tuesday - Sunday) from 10am to 6pm and admission is free.
Photograph of the Crucified Christ by Muriel Anssens and © Ville de Nice - Musée des Beaux-Arts
Check-in to the Musée des Beaux-Arts with foursquare here
Follow FR2DAY on foursquare here
RECENT IN EXHIBITION
A diamond of incredible beauty, star of the French Crown Jewels, has been brought back to life in a replica >>
The Côte d'Azur is known for being the home of some of the most prolific painters of the last generation. >>
Galerie Oscar, Nice's newest and undoutedly hippest gallery, present their next exhibition entitled 'Diamonds >>
There was a positive atmosphere in Cannes this week, as over 12,500 delegates from 4,211 companies and 102 >>
She blows glass, explodes coffee pots, and tortures commonplace objects, imprisoning them in resin, and all >>
This year's showpiece exhibition at the Fondation Maeght is an exhibition of the works of Eduardo Chillida. >>
If you enjoyed the recent nuptials of Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock, you will not want to miss two >>
When local art galleries start thinking of projects, they have some big ideas. 2011 is the biggest yet. In >>
