Myth and Faith in Renaissance Florence: The sculpture of Giovan Angelo Montorsoli and his circle

Myth and Faith in Renaissance Florence examines the sculpture of Montorsoli, one of Michelangelo’s most gifted students. Organized around a recently discovered and significant Renaissance sculpture, John the Baptist, newly acquired by the Currier, the exhibition explores the role of the ancient world in shaping the art of Montorsoli and more broadly of Renaissance Florence. Through the sculpture and other related works, this unique exhibition will reveal new insights about the complex iconography of Florence’s patron saint.

Opening the exhibition will be a weekend of special events. A one-day symposium on October 13, led by art scholars from around the world, will focus on the social, political, and spiritual context in Renaissance Florence and the transformation of Italian sculpture in the 16th century. The weekend will conclude with a concert on October 14 of Florentine songs and virtuoso instrumental works by the renowned early music group, Il Furioso. Drawn from the songbooks of courtly singers, Machiavelli poetry, and Medici music heard at the Palazzo Pitti, this program will offer a glimpse of Florence from the mid-1500s to the early 17th century.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.