ENGLISH TRANSLATION

“St. Francis, Creation, the Templars” exhibition through February 2025

The exhibition pays homage to the saint of Assisi and the Templars through symbols and works of art.

The exhibition “St. Francis, Creation, the Templars. A Subtle Journey” which opened in Assisi, will remain open until Feb. 28, 2025. This is the third exhibition created as part of the Fontebella PopUp project, promoted by hospitality entrepreneur Elena Angeletti. The initiative aims to offer a new cultural opportunity to those visiting the Seraphic city, involving visitors in an artistic experience inside the Fontebella Palace Hotel.
The exhibition, curated by Adelinda Allegretti, pays homage to St. Francis, patron saint of Italy, and is divided into a journey through representations of nature, animals and symbols that recall the values of the saint and the Templars. The opening ceremony, held yesterday, was attended by several institutional figures including Donatella Casciarri, president of the City Council, and Francesco Raspa, head of the Culture Office of the City of Assisi. Also, present were Mauro Giorgio Ferretti, Master of the Order of the Temple, and artist Guido Dettoni Della Grazia.

The exhibition itinerary: from Warhol’s lithographs to sacred symbols

The exhibition is notable for the variety of works on display, ranging from lithographs from the 1980s by Andy Warhol to works by contemporary artists. The main room hosts a series of Warhol’s lithographs featuring images of endangered animal species such as the giant panda and the black rhinoceros, symbols of the importance of nature conservation. The works are flanked by oils on canvas by artists such as Silvia Pisani and Gianmario Quagliotto, depicting a spiritual and raw vision of nature, respectively.

Other works include lithographs by Keith Haring, with a strong message of environmental denunciation, and a delicate interpretation by Pablo Picasso. All this is part of a deliberately heterogeneous exhibition context, in which the diversity of styles and themes invites reflection on the connection between man, nature and spirituality.

The room dedicated to the Templars and the historical menu.

An entire section is reserved for Templar iconography, created in collaboration with the Knights Templar Today. Here one can admire representations of the Holy Grail, evangelical symbols such as the lion and eagle, and hands in meditation by Turkish artist Erdinç Sakin. The Templar narrative also extends to the food and wine aspect, with a thematic menu in the “Il Frantoio” restaurant below, offering a culinary journey inspired by the knights’ tradition.

Tactile experience and homage to Salvador Dalí.

In the same room, visitors can enjoy a unique tactile experience thanks to the availability of artist Guido Dettoni Della Grazia. His works, including a stylization of the Virgin Mary, can be touched and held in the hands, offering a feeling of physical connection with the art. Another significant work is a gilded bronze version of Salvador Dalí‘s Cristo de San Juan, dated 1970.

Conclusion of the exhibition and artistic continuity

The exhibition will be open until Feb. 28, 2025, and in addition to the main exhibit, visitors can continue their artistic journey in the restaurant room, where the works are displayed in a chaotic but stimulating arrangement. This section, inspired by the Tate Gallery in London, offers a mix of genres and styles that creates a unique visual and cultural impact.