Early Italian Drawings at the Morgan Library

‘Invention and Design: Early Italian Drawings’ is at the Morgan Library & Museum in Murray Hill, Manhattan, Tuesday-Sunday from February 15 to May 19, 2019.

Invention and Design: Early Italian Drawings at the Morgan

This exhibition of works from the Museum’s collection, documents the development of early Renaissance drawing practices from the start of the Renaissance in Florence, Italy around 1300 through 1500.

The Renaissance is the foundation of western civilization. It was the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of a process of modernization and humanization which continues today.

This was a period of huge change in the social order and artistic ideas. The Black Death depopulated parts of Europe and shifted people’s focus from the afterlife to life on earth.

Expanding trade with Asia and Europe brought wealth to Italy, especially through Genoa and Venice.

Increasing wealth led to the rise of a merchant class, and they patronized the arts. It’s a bit like New York City. Wealthy bankers support the arts. Back then it was the Medici’s. Today it is hedge fund managers. Money and art go hand in hand.

The exhibition includes work by Mantegna, Filippo Lippi, Filippino Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Fra Bartolomeo, and Andrea del Sarto.