(16 January 2017) The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art reopened to the public following an extensive refurbishment. It is the only collection devoted entirely to Italian art in the United Kingdom. The first exhibition since its reopening is devoted to painting and photography on British involvement alongside Italy during the First World War on the Northeastern Italian front. “War in the sunshine, the British in Italy 1917-’18” was curated by Jonathan Black featuring paintings by Sydney Carline and photographs by WJ Brunnel and Ernest Brooks and is open until 19 March. Deputy Head of Mission to the UK, Vincenzo Celeste, was present during the reopening ceremony of the Estorick Collection in Islington, London. Director Roberta Cremoncini welcomed him to the reception where Nicholas Serota, president of Arts Council England and ex-director of the Tate galleries and the deputy Mayor of Islington Una O’Halloran and the son of the founder of the Estorick collection, Michael Estorick were present. During his opening remarks on behalf of Ambassador Terracciano, Celeste underlined “that none of the works on display depict any form of combat but instead show encounters between Italian locals and the British. The exhibition features powerful images that shed light on those difficult years, offering an important connection between Italians and British, between people, beyond politics and war”. The Estorick Collection plays an important part in informing the British public about avant-garde Italian art of the beginning of the 20th century as well as important post-war artists. The collection focuses on the period between 1890 and the 1950s including futurist artists such as Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni, Carlo Carrà, and Gino Severini. (Red)
