The Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Mariangela Zappia, hosted a conversation in Washington yesterday on the connection between art and diplomacy with the Director of the Uffizi, Simone Verde, and prominent American guests to celebrate the centenary of the first loan from the Uffizi Galleries in Florence to the Embassy of Italy in Washington. The evening saw a large audience in attendance.
“The first loan from the Uffizi to this Embassy in 1924 was not only a way to introduce American audiences to masterpieces of Italian art but also a way to build an additional bridge between Italy and the United States, which continues to grow even today, a century later. Italy has always believed that art and cultural diplomacy are extraordinarily powerful and effective channels for dialogue and mutual understanding,” Ambassador Zappia emphasized in her remarks.
The Ambassador also highlighted the Villa Firenze Contemporanea collection, a testament to the commitment of the Italian Embassy in Washington to continue promoting Italian art, both past and present, in the United States.
The Uffizi loan a century ago initiated a long-standing tradition that has brought Italian artworks to diplomatic missions around the world, placing importance on the role of art as a tool for promoting Italian culture.
During the event, attended by Megan Beyer, Director of Art in Embassies; Aviva Rosenthal, Director of Global Affairs at the Smithsonian Institution; and Joseph Angemi, Senior Curator of the Office of Cultural Heritage at the Department of State, a publication was presented that compiles the works exhibited in Washington at the Embassy and at Villa Firenze.
