On Monday, February 10, 2025, at 5:30 PM, the Empedocleo Cultural Circle in Agrigento will host a significant event for art and history enthusiasts: "Baroque in Agrigento, Giacomo Serpotta and Beyond." This gathering, aimed at delving into the artistic richness of Sicilian Baroque and the contributions of renowned sculptor and stucco artist Giacomo Serpotta, will feature experts and scholars in the field.
The event presents a valuable opportunity to rediscover the historical and artistic heritage of Agrigento, a region that, thanks to its millennia-long history, preserves traces of extraordinary beauty, including Serpotta's Baroque decorations and the city's architectural wonders.
Sicilian Baroque is one of the most captivating artistic expressions of the island, characterized by sinuous forms, refined details, and an almost theatrical attention to light and movement. This style, which flourished in Sicily between the 17th and 18th centuries, left a profound mark on Agrigento, as it did in many other cities on the island.
Baroque art, through the use of stucco, limestone, and marble, has made the sacred and secular buildings of Agrigento even more imposing and evocative. Among the personalities who contributed to this extraordinary artistic period, Giacomo Serpotta, undisputed master of stucco sculpture, stands out.
Born in Palermo in 1656, Giacomo Serpotta is considered one of the greatest stucco sculptors in art history. His mastery is evident in his incredible ability to mold the material, creating figures of extraordinary expressiveness and lightness. His work is distinguished by the refined use of chiaroscuro, which gives dynamism and depth to his compositions.
Agrigento preserves several testaments to his art, particularly in the decorations of the church of the Santo Spirito monastery, where his works blend with sacred architecture to create an evocative and spiritually intense environment.
The meeting on February 10 will offer a unique opportunity to deepen the knowledge of Agrigento's Baroque and its historical and artistic context. After the institutional greetings from Giuseppe Adamo, President of the Empedocleo Cultural Circle, and Patrizia Camera, President of the Maria Cristina di Savoia Cultural Conference, experts in the field will take the floor.
One of the central themes of the meeting will be the Basilica-Cathedral of Agrigento, a building of extraordinary historical and artistic value. This imposing structure, which dominates the city from the Girgenti hill, represents a perfect blend of different architectural styles, with medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque influences.
The Baroque is evident in the interior decorations, with sculpted altars, frescoes, and stuccoes that make the environment solemn and spectacular. The meeting will offer the opportunity to delve into the symbolic and artistic significance of the Cathedral, placing it in the broader context of Sicilian Baroque art.
Another focus of the event will be dedicated to the presence of Giacomo Serpotta's works in the church of the Santo Spirito monastery. Here, the artist left one of his most extraordinary testaments, enriching the religious building with stucco decorations of extraordinary beauty and emotional depth.
Serpotta's sculptures in the church offer a perfect example of the artist's ability to transform stucco into a living and vibrant material, capable of telling sacred stories with incredible expressiveness.
Agrigento's Baroque represents a cultural resource of inestimable value, deserving to be known and promoted. Initiatives like this contribute to strengthening the city's cultural identity, bringing the public closer to the discovery of an artistic heritage that is too often underestimated.
One of the event's objectives is precisely to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and enhancing the Baroque heritage, stimulating new initiatives for its preservation and promotion.