On Friday, November 15, at 11:30 AM, the civic gallery “Giovanni Segantini” in Arco will host the inauguration of the exhibition “Autumn Sun: The Rediscovered Masterpiece”. This event marks a significant moment for the local community as it celebrates the acquisition by the municipality of the painting by Giovanni Segantini, also known as “White Cow at the Watering Place”. The artwork, a large oil on canvas created in 1887, measures 90 centimeters in height and 192 centimeters in width. To celebrate this important addition to the local artistic heritage, admission will be free for all visitors on the day of the inauguration.
Exhibition Details
The exhibition will remain open until January 26 and can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM, with closures on Mondays. Starting from January 28 until March 31, the exhibition will be accessible by reservation for school groups and associations, with guides available in both German and English.
The new display of the artwork is curated by Niccolò D’Agati and is designed to highlight the significance of “Autumn Sun” in Segantini’s artistic journey. This piece marks a crucial phase in his stylistic evolution, showcasing the renewed approach to color and light that would characterize his subsequent works after moving to the Grisons.
A Rediscovered Masterpiece
The painting has a prestigious collecting history; it was acquired by the Municipality of Arco for a significant sum of 3 million euros, making it one of the largest public purchases of Italian 19th-century artworks. This acquisition not only enriches the local cultural heritage but also encourages in-depth studies on Giovanni Segantini and 19th-century painting.
Not exhibited since 1954, the year of the “Lombard Painters of the Late 19th Century” exhibition, “Autumn Sun” finally re-emerges to the public eye after seventy years. The canvas represents one of the highlights of Segantini’s production and is distinguished by its specific iconographic and technical qualities.
Reflections on Artistic Legacy
On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Segantini’s passing, the civic gallery in Arco aims to emphasize the enduring connection between the city of Arco and the figure of the painter. This bond is manifested through initiatives such as the commissioning of a monument to the artist by Leonardo Bistolfi.
“Autumn Sun,” in addition to being a masterpiece of Italian artistic culture, symbolizes a thematic evolution compared to earlier works from the 1880s. It moves away from idyllic representation to celebrate a more direct and universal vision of nature.
The artwork has gone through various collecting phases before arriving in Arco: from Alberto Grubicy’s collection in 1887 to the collections of the Dall’Acqua and Rossello families in the 20th century. Its exhibition thus represents not only a physical return but also a symbolic one within the contemporary Italian cultural landscape.
Italian Version
