Journal | MDCCC 1800
Monographic journal issue | 6 | 2017
Research Article | Masterpieces of Lightness and Grace
Masterpieces of Lightness and Grace
Murano glass at the Universal Exhibitions in Paris
Abstract
This article analyses the inclusion of Venetian glass pieces and mosaics at four Universal Exhibitions in Paris from 1867 – the first year in which Italy could be represented as a unified country – till 1900, when the annual event inaugurated a new century and a completely different art system. The widening of an international market was the main impulse behind the revival of the Murano tradition and the rebirth of its economy, which had been in crisis in the first half of the 19th century. The main players in this relaunch were Antonio Salviati – at first with a company with his own name and, after 1878, as Compagnia di Venezia e Murano – Pietro Bigaglia and other smaller, less prominent foundries. All were equally active in the production of glass pieces imitating Renaissance pieces, mirrors and mosaics.
Submitted: Feb. 15, 2017 | Accepted: May 2, 2017 | Published July 31, 2017 | Language: it
Keywords Mosaic • Murano • Antonio Salviati • Glasswork • Expositions Universelles • Paris
Copyright © 2017 Cristina Beltrami. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.14277/2280-8841/MDCCC-6-17-2
