In the second half of the 18th century, a new art movement emerged with the rise of the Enlightenment. Painting and writing became a tool to express moral necessities. Artists began to explain social merits through mythological stories, history and examples from their countries. In their works, artists strengthened their relations with antiquity. Applied arts like sculpture, engraving and painting became very popular. Interestingly, Italy was seen as either outside or partially inside this movement, which caught the imagination of the whole of Europe. Indeed, Rome has always taken a leading role with its antique culture, major works inspired by the Renaissance era and vivid cultural environment. For example, Italian sculpturer Antonio Canova introduced masterpiece sculpture works. Other Italian and foreign artists turned the Vatican, the city of popes, into a center of European culture. Liliana Barroero is a distinguished professor in the Department of Humanist Studies and an art critic at Roma Tre University. She is a member of the editorial committee of the magazines Roma Moderna e Contemporanea, Studi di Storia Dell'arte and Bollettino dei Musei Comunali di Roma. Barroero generally focuses on the relationship between the capital and other cities in her works. She specializes in the figurative culture of central Italy between the 17th and 19th centuries.

When: May 12

Where: Casa d'Italia Theatre