PUBLIC PROGRAMME
Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga: Alessandro Magnasco painting from our Collection showcased in Lisbon
17.09.2024 — 26.01.2025
"Beauty, Seduction and Sharing" is the motto of the long-lasting lending protocol between the MNAA and the Gaudium Magnum Foundation. Currently on view from our collection is a masterpiece by Alessandro Magnasco, an Italian painter of the late Baroque period renowned for his expressive style and ability to convey satirical and moral messages in seemingly innocuous scenes.
The present work depicts a scene taken from the story of Joseph as narrated by the Old Testament, which offers cues for both religious meditation and reflection on royal gratitude. In the early 18th century, this episode was the subject of numerous allegorical plays performed in Europe's most important court theatres, a correlation visible in the highly articulated architectural setting depicted by Magnasco.
The imaginative prison where Joseph sits — interpreting the dreams of the Pharaoh's baker and cupbearer — shows how Magnasco was actively taking part in the intellectual debates of his time. The new ideas that sprung from the French Enlightenment reached Milan and became the basis for protests against corruption, religious intolerance and social prejudice, a context that can help us better understand Magnasco's desire to denounce the deplorable conditions of convicts and the cruel torture methods widely used in prisons at the time.
Convers’arte with Anna Orlando at MNAA
Tuesday, 29.10.2024, 6pm
With Magnasco’s masterpiece we launch the Convers’arte cycle to delve into the fascinating art world linked to all dimensions of life. A vibrant space for sharing, which brings together voices from different disciplines, and heightens knowledge about the splendor of European painting from the 14th to the 18th century. Come celebrate the beauty of late Baroque painting through the eyes of art historian and expert on Genoese painting, Anna Orlando. Under the theme “Brushstrokes, Ideals and Politics,” the talk aims to examine this pioneering work from the Gaudium Magnum Foundation collection. With free admission, Convers’arte is held in English and takes place in the beautiful ball room of the National Museum of Ancient Art located in a formerly a Carmelite convent. Book your seat now.
Hispanic Society Museum and Library: Camões 500th anniversary celebrated in New York
01.10.2024 — 10.11.2024
In celebration of the 500th anniversary of Luís de Camões' birth, the Gaudium Magnum Foundation and the Hispanic Society Museum and Library (HSML) present an exhibition and symposium highlighting the legacy of one of the greatest figures in world literature.
Taking place on 1 October the symposium examines how Camões embodied the transformative spirit of 16th-century Europe, exploring the intersections of humanism and art and revealing the influences of European luminaries of the Renaissance.). The invited speakers are: Isabel Almeida (Universidade de Lisboa), Henrique Leitão (Universidade de Lisboa), Kenneth David Jackson (Yale University), Josiah Blackmore (Harvard University), Joaquim Oliveira Caetano (MNAA) e José Miguel Martínez Torrejón (Queens College). The book exhibition, "Camões: A Poet Read, A Poet Reader", aims to be both educational and accessible for visitors unfamiliar with Camões, highlighting the diffusion of Os Lusíadas in Spain and the Americas. Curated by Isabel Almeida, the show is open from 1 October until 10 November.
Watch the curator's interview here.HSML&L Literary Travels: Book Arts Programme with
Ana Cordeiro
Saturday, 26.10.2024, 4-6pm
In conjunction with the Camões exhibition, we are thrilled to announce a workshop led by Ana Cordeiro, a distinguished NYSCA Artist Fellow and the recipient of the 2024 Governor’s Medal of Arts and Culture. This engaging workshop will feature a hands-on demonstration of two unique historical book types: the Turkish Map Fold and the Vade mecum.The Turkish map fold is a captivating and sculptural book form crafted from a single sheet of paper, optionally adorned with a cover. As you open, it unfolds dramatically revealing the entire sheet unexpectedly. A captivating format that you can also use for drawings or for a fun notebook. The Latin term "Vade mecum" translates to "go with me" or "take along." It refers to a handy handbook or guide that is always at hand for consultation. Join us in this unique opportunity to explore these historical book forms and expand your creative skills!
THE FOUNDATION
The Gaudium Magnum Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Lisbon, Portugal. Founded in 2018 by Maria and João Cortez de Lobão, the foundation is dedicated to supporting culture, education, and research while actively engaging in various charitable endeavors. It recognizes the significance of cross-cultural exchanges as a means of building bridges, stimulating dialogue, and fostering social justice, and it is committed to upholding Portugal’s rich tradition of cultural internationalism.As an ambassador for Portugal’s historical and cultural heritage, the foundation promotes dialogue between local and international institutions and supports projects that explore the country's role on the global stage. It particularly focuses on the formation of Portugal’s cultural identity between the 14th and 18th centuries, examining its diplomatic ties and the circulation of models, ideas, and people.Encouraging inter-institutional partnerships, the foundation collaborates with museums, libraries, and research centers both in Portugal and abroad, including the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (Lisbon, Portugal), the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Rome, Italy), the Hispanic Society Museum & Library (New York, USA), and the Instituto Camões (Portugal).
THE COLLECTION
The Collection, put together by Maria and João Cortez de Lobão over the past two decades, currently includes more than 100 works of art by some of the finest European artists from the 14th to the 18th centuries. The Cortez de Lobão believe these works are essential not only for academic study but also as sources of inspiration, and they are dedicated to making them accessible to a wide audience. Their extensive efforts to expand the Collection encourage research, and showcase in various contexts reflect this commitment.To further this mission, an Online Collaborative Catalogue is being developed. This open cross-disciplinary resource will be continuously updated and will serve as a valuable tool for students and scholars specialized in European painting, while also allowing enthusiasts to engage in interactive exploration. By loaning artworks from the Collection, we aim to contribute to various national and international temporary exhibitions. This collaboration with diverse artistic and museum institutions enhances access to the works and broadens our reach to wider audiences.
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