Fernando Botero, la grande mostra (Fernando Botero, the Grand Exhibition) at Palazzo Bonaparte is the first major exhibition held one year after the death of the Colombian master, considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century, whose unique and original style managed to enhance figures as never before seen in the history of art.
With over 120 works, divided into 11 sections, the exhibition – which runs from September 17th, 2024 to January 19th, 2025 – explores the intense, prolific, and exceptional works that distinguished Botero in his experimentation with the various techniques he mastered during his career, including oil painting, sculpture, pastels, pencil drawing, charcoal and blood, demonstrating the depth and versatility of his creations. The exhibition is curated by the artist’s daughter, Lina Botero, and Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz, a great expert of his work.
With the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the Lazio Region, and the Department of Culture of Municipality of Rome, the project is produced and organized by Arthemisia, in collaboration with the Fernando Botero Foundation and in partnership with the Fondazione Terzo Pilastro - Internazionale and also Poema. It is sponsored by Generali Valore Cultura, Ricola as special sponsor, Cantine Ferrari Trento as technical sponsor, Atac and Frecciarossa Treno Ufficiale as partners, La Repubblica and Urban Vision as media partners, and Hotel de Russie and Hotel de la Ville as hospitality sponsors.
The catalogue is published by Moebius.
Botero was and still is a classic of the 20th century, always linked to the tradition of the great masters, and Italy, which his second home, played a crucial role in his artistic development. This is where, in the early 1950s, while studying the immense shapes and extraordinary colors of 15th-century painting, he came to understand his almost innate interest in volumes, beginning his stylistic transformation.
Despite his cosmopolitan soul, Botero never forgot his Colombian origins: he transformed his own memories of Colombia and his childhood into the main themes of his works. He claimed to be "the most Colombian of Colombians" and knew how to integrate the essence of his native land into the Italian Renaissance tradition.
Even if the great master believed that art should produce pleasure, Botero briefly moved away from this premise to address several themes condemnation in two series: one dedicated to violence in Colombia; the other to the torture perpetrated in Abu Ghraib, Iraq.
He spent his last days, as he said himself, "learning the complex technique of painting". In 2020, when asked: "What would you like to do?", with great humility he replied: "Learn to paint. The wonderful thing about painting is that no one can decide to know how to paint. Painting, every single day, leads you to take new paths and never stop practicing."
Fernando Botero died on September 15th, 2023. He fulfilled his dream by continuing to work until the end and left a monumental legacy that continues to inspire the world of art.
BOTERO, THE GRAND EXHIBITION
Rome, Palazzo Bonaparte - September 17th, 2024 to January 19th, 2025
INFORMATION
Opening HoursMonday to Thursday: 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
(ticket office closes one hour earlier)
Special OpeningsFriday, November 1st: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday, December 8th: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tuesday, December 24th: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday, December 25th: 2:30 pm - 9:00 pm
December 26th to 30th: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tuesday, December 31st: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday, January 1st: 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
January 2nd to January 6th: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
(ticket office closes one hour earlier)
TicketsOpen: € 18.00
Full: € 16.00
Reduced: € 15.00
Information and ReservationsT. + 39 06 87 15 111