The exhibition presents a selection of masterpieces from the Classical world (about 200 objects), taking us on a fascinating journey through figurative art, focusing on works inspired by various aspects of Nature, landscape, and the result of human action on natural landscape and the environment.
Painted vases, votive terracotta objects, frescoes, luxury objects such as silverware and gold jewelry are all decorated with motifs associated with fauna and flora; the sea and the coastline are depicted, along with forests and, for the first time, splendid animated landscapes. Very soon, Man’s relationship with the environment developed in a symbolic way and figurative art welcomed the stories of Dionysus associated with wine, the stories about Demeter associated with grain, and the abundance of Triptolemus, who taught humans how to sow seed. True depiction of landscape first appears in art in the Hellenistic period and enjoyed great popularity in Roman times, when walls frescoed with depictions of the natural environment made houses seem more spacious. The splendidly illustrated catalog contains a series of articles by a group of international experts: Cornelia Isler-Kerény, Elena Calandra, Nikolaus Dietrich, Claude Pouzadoux, Francois Lissarrague, Eliana Mugione and many more.