CAVALLERIZZA SPACE – LUCCA
December 2, 2025 – June 2, 2026
Giovanni Boldini. The Seduction of Painting is the impressive new exhibition produced by Contemplazioni, open until June 2, 2026, at the Cavallerizza in Piazzale Verdi in Lucca.
The exhibition, curated by Tiziano Panconi, boasts contributions from prestigious public and private collections, including the Uffizi Gallery and the Giovanni Boldini Museum in Ferrara, and aims to celebrate “the master of portraiture of the Belle Époque.”
A journey of over 100 works that recounts the evolution of Boldini’s painting through beauty, especially that of women, the object of constant aesthetic research and profound psychological investigation, upon which the master coined an idealized model of grace.
His portraits are not just images: they are atmospheres, whispers, seductions. They are vibrant, proud, and free women.
Visitors will discover iconic masterpieces such as the Portrait of a Lady and Countess Speranza, alongside early works in dialogue with the Macchiaioli, such as the Portrait of Vittorio Emanuele II, never before exhibited.
The exhibition unfolds in six thematic and chronological sections: from the small interiors of early Florence to the refined scenes of the Goupil period in Paris, from the full-length “divine” femmes fatales to the vibrant portraits of the end of the century, defined by long, rapid brushstrokes and sweeps of the canvas that convey dynamism and sensuality.
Alongside Boldini’s work, there are masterpieces by contemporary artists such as De Nittis, Corcos, Signorini, Zandomeneghi, Mancini, Helleu, and many others.
This selection is designed to contextualize Boldini’s painting within the international figurative scene of the 19th and 20th centuries and to emphasize how his art fully represents the spirit of the era.
The entire exhibition unfolds in a captivating setting designed by Contemplazioni, with sets and installations by Cesare Inzerillo and Marilena Manzella, transforming the Cavallerizza into a place suspended between history and dream, where portraits come to life in the shadows, amid velvets, silks, and gestures that seem freshly made.
A special section is dedicated to works on paper: sketches, drafts, faces, and gestures captured with rapid, confident strokes.
The exhibition is also a journey through the female figures who shaped Boldini’s life and art: the actress Alice Regnault, Princess Eulalia of Spain, Countess Berthier de Leusse, Mademoiselle de Nemidoff, and his companion Berthe, often portrayed with her lover Gabrielle de Rasty in intimate and captivating scenes, such as in the extremely rare painting In Conversation.
We would like to thank the various local organizations that contributed to the project, including: Martinelli Luce, Francesconi Srl, Del Debbio Spa, Kairos, Gesam, Baldassari Cavi, and also: Guidi Gino, Baldassari Impianti, Laboratorio Delta, Vando Battaglia Costruzioni, Edra, Associazione Lucchesi nel Mondo, and Confindustria Toscana Nord.
The exhibition, under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the Tuscany Region, and the City of Lucca, is a Contemplazioni project.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with last admission at 6:45 PM.
Tickets: Full price €16.00 (audio guide included), reduced price (over 65s, under 18s, university students, non-accredited journalists, one companion for a disabled person, tour guides with a valid tour guide card) €14.00 (audio guide included), schools of all levels €5.00, families: each adult €11.00 + children aged 7 to 18 €7.00 each (free for children under 6).
For info: lucca@contemplazioni.it • +39 389 2346010 • www.contemplazioni.it
