Venues:
Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Varese: Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza, Novembre 11, 2000 – January 28, 2001.

Curator:
Annie-Paule Quinsac.

Artist:
Giovanni Segantini.

Exhibition description:
To commemorate the centennial of Giovanni Segantini’s death, this exhibition brought together thirty works of the artist’s mature Symbolist period (1858-1899). The show was composed of thirteen paintings, which accompanied a core of drawings, and provided a comprehensive insight into the manner in which Segatini pioneered the scientific investigation of the thematic rapport between light and perception. Each of the paintings exhibited exemplified the evolution of Segantini’s divisionist technique, and his gradual development from an artist of a single vision derived from nature, to one of a pantheist symbolism, characterized throughout by a powerful naturalism. Among the artworks on display was the famous Rose Petal (1891, private collection), a portrait of the artist’s companion Bice Bugatti; this painting is not only indicative of Segantini’s rich Symbolist style, but had not been on public view since 1926.

Partnerships:
This exhibition was presented in the context of the program “ENEL Light for Art” and organized in collaboration with FAI (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano) with support from ENEL and Pro Helvetia.

Catalogue:
Quinsac, Annie-Paule. Giovanni Segantini. Luce e Simbolo. Light and Symbol. 1884–1899. Milano: Skira, 2000.

Bilingual catalogue, in Italian and English. Catalogue includes prefaces by Giulia Mozzoni Crespi (President, Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano), Thomas Krens (Director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation) and Chicco Testa (President Enel S.P.A.). Essays by Annie-Paule Quinsac and Robert Rosenblum, as well as an appendix featuring a biography, an exhibition history and a bibliography.

Library location: GUGG PGC 2001 .01.