Sassari, "It's culture": Goya's works also feature at the Banco di Sardegna headquarters.

The Banco di Sardegna in Sassari is renewing its commitment to art and culture, reopening the doors of its historic building for "È cultura" (formerly "Invito a Palazzo"), a national event promoted by the Italian Banking Association. The event will take place on Saturday, October 11th, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with guided tours led by students from the Sassari Art School.

For the occasion, the prestigious Sala Siglienti, at the entrance to the Palazzo in Piazzetta Banco di Sardegna, will be enriched by a special exhibition dedicated to Francisco Goya's "Caprichos." This revolutionary series of 80 etchings and aquatints, first published in 1799 in Madrid, is both a masterpiece of printmaking and a profound social commentary denouncing the vices, corruption, and superstitions of late-18th-century Spain. Goya used printmaking to "stigmatize human errors and vices," bringing the invisible into the visible through "a fantastic and creative image outside the norm."

Visitors will be able to appreciate the permanent art collections housed in the palace designed by engineer Bruno Cipelli and built in 1929. These include works by the most representative Sardinian artists, including Giuseppe Biasi, Mario Delitala, Stanis Dessy, Antonio Corriga, Carmelo Floris, and Pietro Antonio Manca . The palace also houses a collection of 42 works by Mario Sironi, one of the most illustrious representatives of the 20th-century Italian figurative movement. The exhibition is further enriched by the "Sardinian" works of the Argentine painter Hector Nava, which offer a sensitive and unique perspective on the island. The visit also includes the numismatic collection, silverware, and sacred and profane precious items, the Ruju sisters' dolls in Sardinian costume, and documents from the historical archives of the Bank of Sardinia.

On the second floor of the Palazzo, visitors can admire the history of engraving in Sardinia: a rich and vibrant chapter, where artists such as Mario Delitala, Stanis Dessy, Giuseppe Biasi, Antonio Corriga, Salvatore Fara, Enrico Piras, and others transformed techniques such as etching, woodcut, and lithography into powerful tools to express the profound soul of their land, its people, customs, and landscape.

Among the rarities on display is a priceless engraving by Filippo Maria Pugioni, an 18th-century friar from Sassari, who in 1717 created a double-sided print depicting the Martyrs of Turritani and Saint Philip Benizi. An exhibition area along the second-floor corridors is dedicated to the original plates, allowing visitors to experience the artists' creative process and observe the work in its most primitive and authentic form.

To further enrich the experience, Banco di Sardegna is offering two workshops on engraving techniques, led by Professor Enrico Piras, in the Siglienti Room. Reservations are required: Wednesday the 15th from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm and Thursday the 16th from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm . Reservations are accepted, subject to availability, by emailing relazioniesterne@bancosardegna.it. This is a valuable opportunity to immerse yourself in Sardinian culture, discover the stories and faces of Sardinia, and reflect on major universal themes through art and creativity.

(Unioneonline)