"Atlas of the Heavens: Treasures of the Italian Pavilion" Opens at Osaka City Museum of Art, Featuring "Farnese Atlas" from the Expo's Italian Pavilion
The special exhibition "Atlas of the Heavens: Treasures of the Italian Pavilion," featuring the Farnese Atlas, has opened at the Osaka City Museum of Art.Summary
The special exhibition "Atlas of the Heavens: Treasures of the Italian Pavilion," showcasing works including the highly popular "Farnese Atlas" (2nd century) from the Osaka-Kansai Expo's Italian Pavilion, has commenced at the Osaka City Museum of Art. This exhibition was realized following an offer from the Italian Pavilion around July and the availability of space in the museum's special exhibition rooms. The centerpiece is the "Farnese Atlas" (c. 150 AD), a massive sculpture depicting the giant Atlas holding the celestial sphere, intricately carved with 42 constellations and the zodiac. Discovered around 1546 near the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, it was collected by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, giving it its name. Although usually housed in the Naples National Archaeological Museum, it was unveiled for the first time in Asia during the Expo. Art historian Norikuro Miyashita praised the work as "a valuable piece astronomically" and a unique sculpture that greatly influenced subsequent works.
(Source：美術手帖)