An extraordinary exhibition dedicated to Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece, “The Three Ages” (1905), on loan from the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome, opened on June 27 in Perugia. This event marks the beginning of the new exhibition cycle “A Masterpiece in Perugia,” hosted by the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria until September 15. Costantino D’Orazio, director of the National Museums of Umbria, emphasized that access to the exhibition is included in the entrance ticket to the Gallery.
The exhibition is divided into three rooms, offering an immersive experience in the world of Klimt. In the first room, a virtual exhibition, created with the contribution of the Perugia Foundation, presents the artist’s major paintings. The painting “The Three Ages” is described in great detail before visitors can admire it in person.
The second room explores Klimt’s influence on Italian art, with a focus on Galileo Chini. Also on display are the Italian exhibitions in which the Viennese artist was a protagonist, as well as the preparatory sketches for the main work. This section highlights the vast resonance of Klimt’s artistic language beyond the Austrian borders.
Entering the final room is like crossing a portal that transports the visitor back in time, to the Venice Biennale of 1910 and the Rome International Exhibition of 1911. In these exhibitions, “The Three Ages” consecrated Klimt’s everlasting fame also in Italy. The environment is enriched by the evocative soundtrack of the song “Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night)” by the Viennese composer Arnold Schoenberg, creating an evocative atmosphere.
Klimt’s “The Three Ages” explores the theme of the three stages of life, a recurring topic in the history of art. However, Klimt distinguishes himself by focusing exclusively on the female figure, offering an homage to the complexity and transformation of the female body over the years. This masterpiece represents a fascinating journey through the stages of life, accompanied by an evolution of the attitude towards existence.
Donatella Binaglia
