Of Flesh & Stone: A Photographic Heritage of the Sculpture and Architecture of Italy

“Of Flesh and Stone” explores the relationship between the works of three photographers living in Italy – Christopher Broadbent, Massimo Listri, and Aurelio Amendola. Each artist has captured the beauty and history of Italy through their own unique perspectives.

“Of Flesh and Stone” explores the relationship between the works of three photographers living in Italy – Christopher Broadbent, Massimo Listri, and Aurelio Amendola. Each artist has captured the beauty and history of Italy through their own unique perspectives.

The Exhibition explores the themes of light, space, and form, and how these elements have influenced and inspired the works of these three photographers. Through their photographs, the beauty and historical significance of Italian architecture, sculpture and flora. The Exhibition also takes into consideration the influence that living in Italy has had on these works, and how they have been inspired by the country’s rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty.

Never before exhibited together, these three photographers’ works transport visitors to another country and uniquely approach the idea of creating and capturing photographic images. Nature creates flora, man builds structures, and artists carve monuments to beauty and grace of the human form.

Christopher Broadbent is a British photographer who is best known for his alluring still life photography. Born in England in 1936, he moved to Paris in 1957 to study cinematography and resettled in Milan in 1966 where he began his career as a photographer in advertising.

Broadbent has a unique eye for capturing light, texture and shadow, and his photographs are soften described as ethereal and dreamlike. He has a deep appreciation for the history of European still life painting as well as the work of Morandi that provide him inspiration for his photographs. He works with natural light and sets up compositions in which he allows the flowers to transform over the passage of days. Nature produces a palette of expressive colors that painters can only approximate. Within the subtlety and beauty of his photographs, there is the sense of their action as “momento mori” revealing the transient nature of all life.

Over the course of his career, Broadbent’s work has been widely published and has been featured in exhibitions throughout Europe. There have been numerous books and critical essays on his photograph images. He continues to divide his time between Italy and Switzerland.

Massimo Listri is an Italian photographer who is best known for his entrancing photographs of historical interiors. Born in Florence in 1956, he began his career as a photographer in the 1980s, focusing primarily on architectural and interior photography. Initially his subjects were closer to home – remaining in Europe – but he has expanded his reach to locations in Asia, South America, Mexico, and Russia among other countries.

Listri is particularly known for his photographs of Italian palaces, libraries churches, and the Vatican. In his work, Listri explores the relationship between architecture and art, and his photographs often reveal the beauty and historical significance of the buildings he photographs. He is a master of light and shadow, and his photographs impart a sense of stillness and serenity. He highlights the broad color spectrum showing the patinas that time and use have given to his subject matter.

Listri’s work conveys a sense of timelessness and historical significance, and he is considered one of the leading authorities in the field of architectural and interior photography. He has a deep appreciation for the history and culture of his carefully composed photographs.

His work has been widely published in books and magazines. There have been many international museum exhibitions devoted to his photographs.

Aurelio Amendola is an Italian photographer who is best known for his photographs of sculptures. Born in Italy in 1938, he has committed his career to the arts. His photographs of historical Italian Renaissance sculptures or, more broadly, for those devoted to the classical tradition, are prominently exhibited. He intimately understands their volumes, three-dimensionality, and contrasts. Each picture offers a viewpoint that is a decided departure from a documentary approach inspired by a tactile, emotional, and sensory vision. Importantly, he is a classic photographer who insists on printing his own photographs where he can control the dynamic range of his pictures. His photographic sequences transcend time. Through his art, the marbles of Canova, Michelangelo, and Bernini appear as flesh, coming to life. He is a master of light and shadow and his pictures have a sense of timeless beauty that comes from his deep connection to the subject matter.

His works are part of many prestigious private and public collections; among them, Fondazione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia, GAM in Turin, Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro in Milan, MAXXI in Rome, The Medici Chapel in Rome, Fondazione Alberto Burri in Città di Castello, Uffizi, Palazzo Fabroni in Pistoia, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia.

“Of Flesh and Stone” is a unique opportunity to see the work of three master photographers, and to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between their works and the influences that have shaped their perspectives. Whether you are an art lover, a photographer, or simply someone who is fascinated by the rich and dramatic images great photographers can produce this exhibition is rewarding.

The exhibition will be on view from February 25 to April 1, and will be open to the public daily from 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.