Hanoi is hosting an exhibition to mark the 500th death anniversary of Italian painter Raphael (1483-1520) from September 8 to October 31 at the Hanoi Museum.

Hanoi is hosting an exhibition to mark the 500th death anniversary of Italian painter Raphael. Photo: Minh An (Kinh te & Do thi)

The exhibition, jointly held by the Hanoi People’s Committee, the Hanoi Museum and the Italian Embassy in Hanoi, introduces the digitized works of painter Raphael to viewers through smart devices located at the museum or via the Magister Art application installed in visitors’ mobile gadgets. 

Thanks to current state-of-the-art technologies, the works are displayed in a chronological order marking the life and career milestones of the painter, as well as the famous cities where he lived and worked.

Magister Raffaello is conceived as an unprecedented experiential journey, narrated through the key artworks by Raphael, which unfold as the visitor moves through a sequence of digital installations that retrace the artist’s life and the cities where he lived and worked, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Antonio Alessandro said at the opening ceremony on September 6.

Curated by the renowned art historian Claudio Strinati, with the contribution of a scientific committee comprising leading experts on Raphael’s art, the exhibition goes beyond the concept of a “multimedia production”, blending together scientific rigor, technological innovation and artistic talent, designed to have a unique emotional impact on visitors.

Along the exhibition itinerary, the visitor will encounter a variety of media, including images, narrations and music, which provide a comprehensive experience of the artist’s genius and explain the essential place he holds within the History of Art.

Raphael’s works are experienced in its historical context with references to artists, writers, philosophers and contemporaries, who were shaping his mind-set and influencing his work. All these characters populate an ideal theatrical stage, metaphorically recreated in the exhibition.

Viewers can also choose the narration content in one of several languages, including Vietnamese, Italian, English, and Spanish.