There is an invisible thread that links equestrian sports and the work of the Capitoline Superintendence of Cultural Heritage: both are custodians of the age-old narrative of the relationship between man and horse. A union confirmed today with the inauguration at the Canonica Museum of Villa Borghese, in Rome, of the exhibition “This is Aquilino son of the wind”, which exhibits 18th century pictorial works from the Capitoline collections which portray the famous horses of the prince and collector Camillo Rospigliosi . An event promoted by Roma Capitale – Capitoline Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with Sport and Health and Fise (Italian Equestrian Sports Federation), Museum Services of Zètema Progetto Cultura and curated by Sandro Santolini.
“This exhibition tells of a passion, that of Camillo Rospigliosi for his horses – the words of Federica Pirani, director of the Artistic Heritage of the Historic Villas of the Capitoline Superintendence -. Rospigliosi was an eccentric character, horses were like children to him. Where do we find someone who wrote poems and odes to their horses? He had them portrayed: an unusual tradition in Italy. The portraits are generally accompanied by verses, in each painting there are small poems. Camillo Rospigliosi recorded in a sort of diary all the winnings of the horses resulting from his training. The tradition of horse racing competitions in Rome, in fact, comes from very far away.”
Pirani then underlined “the exemplary relationship with Sport and Health and Fise: a true best practice. Sport e Salute manages Piazza di Siena in an extraordinary way, as is the care it takes of the surrounding areas. Last year we carried out a restoration of the Aqua Felix Exhibition, which was not vandalized in any way: it is proof that by keeping things well, people also get used to respecting the beauties that belong to everyone”.
“We welcomed with great pleasure the suggestion to organize this exhibition – added the president of Fise, Marco Di Paola -. The horse represents our sports and life companion. Sport is not only a competitive gesture, but also an opportunity for socialization and culture. For this I must thank Sport e Salute and the Superintendence of the Municipality of Rome for making the exhibition possible.”
“We have created a relationship that goes beyond the institutional one: it is a splendid human relationship, and I think this can be seen in the results – stated Valeria Panzironi, director of Development, Strategies and Shared Service of Sport and Health -. With Fise we passionately share the organization of Piazza di Siena and the care of the area. I am also very struck by the fact that the Aqua Felix exhibition was not damaged, it means that beauty calls for respect. It is the principle that we have also applied in the Oval. I think it’s the most beautiful message.”
The exhibition will remain inside the Museum until 15 September 2024 and represents a particularly important event for the organizers of the Piazza di Siena Competition: for the first time, in fact, the Canonica Museum enters the ‘perimeter’ of the Competition’s legacy and in the ‘museum trace’ of the event itself, which in past editions had materialized through collaborations with the GNAM (National Gallery of Modern Art), the exhibition of the reinterpretations of ‘Leonardo’s Horse’ and others.