ARTE E NATURA
Pittura su pietra tra Cinque e Seicento

From 10 October 2025, to 6 January 2026, Accademia Carrara presents 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.

Emerging with Sebastiano del Piombo around the time of the infamous Sack of Rome in 1527, the practice of painting on stone explores the fascinating interplay between nature and artifice, between subject and material: where does human intervention end and nature’s begin? How does the support contribute to the meaning of the work?

This innovative and technically demanding practice, unlike traditional canvas painting, gave the illusion of greater resistance to the ravages of time and elements. It positioned itself as a legitimate and compelling language in the age-old rivalry between painting and sculpture.

The exhibition in Bergamo invites visitors to discover this lesser-known chapter in art history, revealing the expressive potential of a medium that, since ancient times, has symbolized moral strength and faith, evoked alchemical allure, embodied metaphors and symbolism, and aspired to eternity.

From Rome to Florence, from Genoa to the Veneto, this technique—once beloved and then gradually abandoned within little more than a century—engaged prominent artists featured in the exhibition, including Paolo Veronese, Jacopo Bassano, Palma il Giovane, Antonio Tempesta, and Salvator Rosa.