This one hour documentary uncovers the work and life of one of the greatest painters of the 16th century, Italian artist Agnolo di Cosimo di Mariano (1503-1572), usually known as Bronzino. The mannerist multifaceted artist (painter, draftsman, academician, and poet) from Florence became famous as official court painter of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici and had a century-long influence on European court portraiture. Furthermore, as the FT puts it (1): “Few works of art have elicited more heated speculative debate than the erotically charged allegories by Bronzino”. Many of Bronzino’s works are still in Florence, but some can be found at the National Gallery.
Narrated by Hugh Bonneville, Restoring Genius observes the complex restoration of 5 paintings in preparation of the major Bronzino exhibition held at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence from September 2010 till January 2011. With unprecedented access to the Uffizi and the Churches of San Lorenzo and Santa Croce and interviews with top art historians and experts in Florentine Renaissance art, the film explores the world of the Medici and traces the story of an enigmatic artist and the recent revival of interest in his work.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the Director.
Richard Blanshard is an award winning Producer/ Film Director/ Director of Photography. He won 2 Worldfest Houston awards for his documentaries and was director of photography for Werner Herzog on his haunting film La Bohème. Currently he is working on a number of Sky Arts and Sky 3D projects.
Production: West Park Pictures (a division of DCD Media) in association with Bank of America Meryl Lynch and Palazzo Strozzi
Executive producers: Lynette and Andre Singer
Associate producer: Marco Colombo
Editor: Terry Jones
https://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/69998870-ede9-11df-8616-00144feab49a.html#axzz1P4Wm4jQR
Date: Monday, July 18, 2011
Opening times: 7pm
Venue: Italian Cultural Institute, 39 Belgrave Square, SW1X 8NX
Organised by: Italian Cultural Institute
