The Gallerie d'Italia in Vicenza is hosting the first exhibition dedicated to Francesco Bertos, one of the most singular and celebrated sculptors of the Serenissima in the early 18^th century. The exhibition revolves around the artist's absolute masterpiece: the astonishing Fall of the Rebel Angels, which is kept in the museum.

Bertos distinguished himself for his original marble and bronze groups, characterised by complex compositions, rich in figures and details, with mythological or allegorical subjects as bizarre as they are fascinating. His works adorned the residences of some of the most illustrious collectors of his time, such as Tsar Peter the Great and King Carlo Emanuele III of Savoy.

Bertos' incredible technical skill left his contemporaries astounded. Indeed, his daring creations seemed to defy the limits of the materials used, his figures moving as freely as those painted on the ceilings of the halls of aristocratic palaces by the greatest contemporary painters. This skill, considered almost superhuman, drew even the attention of the Inquisition, who accused him of making a pact with the devil.

But in addition to technical virtuosity, Bertos's sculptures conceal a cultured dimension that allows their interpretation as valuable intellectual games exhibited by refined collectors to engage guests in stimulating conversation. Bertos' original style also evoked the perfection of antiquity, the models of Venetian Renaissance sculpture and the bold mannerist compositions of Giambologna.

The exhibition, curated by Fernando Mazzocca and Monica De Vincenti, aims to retrace the original artistic career of Francesco Bertos, shaped by his interactions with some of the most renowned sculptors of his time, including Giovanni Bonazza from Venice and Giovanni Battista Foggini from Florence. Alongside the sculptures, paintings by Giovanni Antonio Fumiani, Antonio Bellucci, Sebastiano Ricci, Giovanni Battista Pittoni and Giambattista Tiepolo evoke the figurative universe in which Bertos worked and by which he was influenced.

Visitors will have the chance to appreciate the masterpiece from Vicenza from a new perspective, comparing it with other bold works worthy of a princely Kunst und Wunderkammer. This is a unique opportunity to discover an artist who, despite being known today mainly by specialists and enthusiasts, succeeded in blending technical virtuosity and intellectual depth in works that continue to astonish and fascinate even centuries later.