18th-century civilization in Naples: the decorated Sedan Chair of Palazzo Venezia

CYCLE: Reintegrations
SPEAKER: Stefano Causa
DATE: Thursday, December 3, 6:00 PM

This presentation focuses on a re-examination of the sedan chair (portantina) at Palazzo Venezia, one of the most singular and least-known artifacts of the mature Bourbon period. Previously thought to be Roman, the five figurative panels belong instead to the Southern Italian sphere, as was first intuited by the historian Antonino Santangelo—a scholar whose work warrants significant rediscovery. While Santangelo’s attribution to Giacinto Diano from Pozzuoli may need to be reconsidered, the study of this sedan chair deserves to be expanded beyond the boundaries of stylistic criticism. Indeed, we are looking at one of those exemplary products positioned between the "minor arts" and craftsmanship, which caught the interest of historian Ferdinando Bologna in a celebrated 1982 essay.

Stefano Causa is Full Professor of Early Modern Art History at the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples. A connoisseur trained in the Longhian tradition, he studied in Florence under Mina Gregori. His research interests focus on Italian art, particularly that of Southern Italy, from the 16th to the 20th century, though he has also worked extensively on the history of art criticism and museography.