Histoires de pierres

Histoires de pierres is an in-depth exhibition that includes over 200 pieces, from the most ancient earthly mineral that dates approximately 4.4 billion years ago to the most recent stone-piece titled Sentimentite, by the contemporary artist Agnieszka Kurant. Loans from 70 institutions helped create one of the more unique presentations to highlight the beauty, magic and poetry hidden within the layers of these natural wonders. The exhibition moves through ten rooms, continuing into the antique cistern of the Villa Médicis and into the former apartments of Cardinal Ferdinand de Médicis and the studio of Balthus. The scenography, by Piovenefabi, features bright pink vitrines and walls that add a sense of light and a vibrant contrast to the work on view.

The curators of Histories de pierres, Jean de Loisy, an independent curator and art historian, and Sam Stourdzé, curator and director of the Villa Médicis since 2020, reference the surrealist writer Roger Callois, who himself kept a large collection of stones, several of which are included in the exhibition, citing his quote: “More than once, I have thought that it is appropriate to look at stones as a kind of poem”. Within this, they explore the connection that stones have had for artists across the ages – from sources of inspiration, energy, meditation and respect.

In addition to actual stones, there is a selection of painting, photography, drawings and sculptures that explore themes, imagery and meaning of stones in various ways. As the curators write, “Companions of our daydreams, stones, older than life, have exerted on humans a fascination of which each of us shares the experience: a collection, a launch, an admiring contemplation. Poets and artists of all periods of art have testified to the profound inflections that these silent presences have had on their creations.”

A  beautifully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition with a wide-range of essays by mineralogists, writers, art historians, geologists and curators.

A full list of exhibiting artists: Juliette Agnel ; Jean-Michel Alberola ; Dove Allouche ; Gioacchino Assereto ; Hans Baldung Grien ; Théodora Barat ; Domenico Beccafumi ; Abdelkader Benchamma ; Constantin Brancusi ; Andrea Branzi ; Victor Brauner ; Brassaï ; André Breton ; Frédéric Bruly Bouabré ; Roger Caillois ; Gilles Caron ; Carl Gustav Carus ; Vija Celmins ; Étienne Chambaud ; Julian Charrière ; Anne-James Chaton ; Le Facteur Cheval ; Pierre-Luc-Charles Ciceri ; Pascal Convert ; Louis Daguerre ; Erik Dietman ; Gino de Dominicis ; Jean Dubuffet ; Jimmie Durham ; Albrecht Dürer ; Esther Ferrer ; Lyonel Feininger ; Éric Feferberg ; Robert Filiou ; Francesco Francia ; Aurélien Froment ; Laura Grisi ; Jacques Grison ; Wenzel Hablik ; René-Just Haüy ; Damien Hirst ; Jean-Pierre Houel ; Pieter Hugo ; Juva; Parviz Kimiavi ; Kapwani Kiwanga ; Agnieszka Kurant ; Alicja Kwade ; Fernand Léger ; Alexandre Isidore Leroy de Barbes ; Richard Long ; Wolfgang Mattheuer ; Ana Mendieta ; Théo Mercier ; Sabine Mirlesse ; Henry Moore ; Gabriel Orozco ; Joachim Patinier ; Lucien Pelen ; Giuseppe Penone ; Charlotte Perriand ; Pablo Picasso ; Domenico Piola ; il Pozzoserrato ; Albert Renger-Patzsch ; Hugues Reip ; Guido Reni ; Évariste Richer ; Édouard Riou ; Auguste Rodin ; Jean-Baptiste Romé de l’Isle ; Ugo Rondinone ; Jean-Claude Rugirello ; John Ruskin ; Rose Salane ; George Sand ; Jean-Michel Sanejouand ; Hercules Pietersz Seghers ; Luca Signorelli ; Joseph Sima ; Carl Spitzweg ; Robert Smithson ; Antonio Tempesta ; Stéphane Thidet ; Toyen ; Tatiana Trouvé ; Lee Ufan ; Giorgio Vasari ; Edward Weston ; Sim Chi Yin.

Histoires de pierres is on view through January 14, 2023 at the Academy of France in Rome – Villa Médicis.

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