The 33rd Biaf, the Florence Antiques Biennial, began with a bang, open yesterday to the public (until 6 October) with the ribbon cutting of the mayor Sara Funaro, the president of the Region Eugenio Giani and the general secretary Fabrizio Moretti. At Palazzo Corsini the eighty exhibitors, representing the best international galleries, have been building relationships, receiving offers and signing purchases with private individuals and the most important museum institutions in the world for two days now. For example, the fourteenth-century panel by Pietro Lorenzetti, purchased by the Municipality of Pienza to recompose part of the Monticchiello Polyptych, has already been sold; and the Madonna and Child enthroned between two curtain-holding angels and four musician angels, 14th century by Bicci di Lorenzo. Just as the Head of Bishop Andrea de’ Mozzi (circa 1296-1300) sculpted by a collaborator of Arnolfo di Cambio has already found a buyer. The most recent art also did well, with the sale of works by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Alighiero Boetti, De Chirico, Nomellini.
But we are only at the beginning and there are many masterpieces on display: from Titian’s painting to Michelangelo’s drawing, from Guido Reni’s landscape with cupids to Boccioni’s Portrait of a Child, from Bronzino’s Madonna to Bernini’s screaming heads.
Meanwhile, on Friday evening, the charity event held at Palazzo Vecchio and organized by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation brought in more than 100 thousand euros. During the gala dinner with almost 500 guests, the auction was held by Simone De Pury and Fabrizio Moretti, to raise funds to help people in difficulty due to illnesses and social exclusion. Andrea Bocelli surprised the audience with his unusual performance on the piano, unable to sing due to the after-effects of flu, accompanied by the flautist Andrea Griminelli, known for his collaboration with Luciano Pavarotti.
“Shooting at Palazzo Corsini these days made me move – said the secretary and curator of BIAF Fabrizio Moretti at the inauguration – I see that world of true art again: I think that ancient art is the art par excellence. I invite everyone to see this exhibition because it is the exhibition of the community, of Florence, of the Italians. We are like psychologists: we manage to sell antidepressants because art helps us live as best we can.”
But there will also be farewells at Biaf. Next Tuesday the Amici di Doccia association will announce that, after over twenty years dedicated to the conservation and valorization of the ancient Ginori factory, it is ceasing its activities. On this occasion, he will present the restoration works carried out in the last year.
