The exhibition showcases 30 works from the Bank's collection, focusing on the role of women at a crucial junction of Italian history and culture. The exhibition spans from the opening of the new headquarters of the National Bank (Banca d'Italia from 1893) in 1871 to the early decades of the 20th century. Through female portraits and works by women artists, the exhibition depicts the gradual affirmation of women's roles - from a predominantly domestic sphere to gaining their own space for creative and intellectual freedom -in parallel with the profound transformations in the economy, culture, and society of the newly formed Italian state. The title 'Towards Modernity' thus charts a course not only in chronological terms but also, and above all, in socio-cultural and civil terms.
The exhibition opens with a tribute to the city of Florence and to Beatrice, the quintessential muse, with three precious editions of Dante's Divine Comedy from the Bank's library collection.
The exhibition is also an opportunity to visit the Florence branch of the Bank: the palace was built between 1865 and 1869 in the Neo-Renaissance style based on a design by Antonio Cipolla.
The exhibition will be open to the public from Thursday 23 November2023 to Sunday 10 March 2024 and can be visited free of charge from Thursday to Sunday by booking in advance on the website www.versolamodernita.it.
