«Le dame dei Pollaiolo» al Poldi Pezzoli

Tempo delle Donne, Cristiana Capotondi sulla copertina di Sette interpreta la Dama del Pollaiolo (foto di Maki Galimberti). Sabato e domenica alla Triennale verrà anticipata con un set fotografico la straordinaria mostra Le dame dei Pollaiolo. Una bottega fiorentina del Rinascimento, momento in cui i quattro dipinti saranno riuniti per la prima volta a Milano (dal 7 novembre 2014 al 16 febbraio 2015). Tutte in posa per un ritratto speciale. Seguite le indicazioni che portano al set e preparatevi per uno scatto… storico.

Per la prima volta riuniti insieme i quattro celebri quadri dipinti tra il 1465 e il 1480 in una bottega artistica

For the extraordinary event-exhibition, which gathers at the Museo Poldi Pezzoli in Milan four masterpieces of the Renaissance, the Italian actress, Cristiana Capotondi, posed for Il Corriere della Sera’s Magazine, Sette, dressed up with jewels and clothes by Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda as one of the young ladies portrayed by the Pollaiolo brothers, masters of Renaissance portraits, known as “Ritratto di Giovane Dama”.
The series of four paintings attributed to Piero and Antonio del Pollaiolo portraying four young ladies are normally housed in different locations: Milan at Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Florence, Berlin and New York, but from November they will be reunited for the first time in Milan, where visitors will be able to enjoy them as intended, all together.
The exhibition held by Museo Poldi Pezzoli will open to visitors from the 7th of November 2014, as part of a project, which wants to reveal and celebrate the image of the woman through the ages.
The debut will take place at the Triennale, in Milan, for the three days event “Il tempo delle Donne”. To read more about the event, click here.

The four paintings represent the Feminine Renaissance spirit, but before you go to behold the art in person, Swide gives you some information about these impeccably well conserved works of art.
1. The artists
Piero and Antonio del Pollaiolo were two Florentine painters active during the Italian Renaissance. We still don’t know for sure who, between the two, is the author of the four paintings. Tradition attributes the paternity to Piero del Pollaiolo.

2. The muse
The identity of the woman is still uncertain. It may be the wife of the banker Giovanni de’ Bardi or Marietta Strozzi or a lady belonging to Belgioioso’s family.

3. The technique
The young lady is portrayed on an azure background, half-face, a typical Italian Courtly posture which, according to the humanistic model of vir illustris, this was the traditional way of portraits inspired by the Roman Imperial medals.

4. The dress
Her bodice is low-necked and tight, tied in the typical fashionable manner for the time. Particular attention must be paid to the velvet floral sleeve of her dress. In Renaissance, sleeves were a very important part of women's dress: they were conceived like jewellery decorated and removable, so that they could be saved as family treasure.

5. The hairstyle and jewellery
The hairstyle, known as “a vespaio” and adorned with pearls and precious stones with ruby seems to evoke a nuptial meaning. Probably the painting was part of a dowry. Pearls are synonymous with purity while ruby with passion and love.

It is unsurprising that Cristiana Capotondi, with her perfect features, reminiscent of an ancient Italian beauty would be chosen to pose as a Renaissance muse. It is also fitting that she be clad in Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda, as the fashion house has often looked back at the grandeur of the Renaissance for inspiration. Both the humanist idea, and the costume of the time resonates in the annals of Dolce&Gabbana, as well as in the heritage of Italy as a whole.