21 January - 30 April 1999
113 works of art, including 66 sculptures in bronze, terracotta, marble and silver, and 47 drawings from the most important museums in Italy, Europe and the United States, revealed the artistic development of this famous sculptor, who lived in the second half of the seventeenth century; he was born in Bologna, but Rome was his adopted city.
Although Alessandro Algardi is best known as the rival of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, he did not live in Bernini's reflected glory, but constantly showed his own independence and individuality, which led him to be idolized by the scholars of his own time and admired by the Roman aristocracy, who found in his style the best way to express their dignity and nobility.
Exhibition curated by Jennifer Montagu and Maria Giulia Barberini.
Mounted by Maurizio Di Puolo with Enzo Serrani and Ombretta Giovannini.
Catalogue edited by Jennifer Montagu, with essays by the curators and by Andrea Emiliani, Claudio Strinati, Francesca Cappelletti, Mirka Beneš, Catherine Johnston, Giovanna Perini, and Francesca Bewer, published by De Luca, Rome 1999.
Sponsoring organizations:
Rome City Council
Office of the Cultural Policy Assessor
Azienda Speciale Palaexpo
Palazzo delle Esposizioni
Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali
Soprintendenza per i Beni Artistici e Storici di Roma