The reopening of the rooms of this great old building for public use is of particular interest to art lovers, because for the first time ever, there is a definitive exhibition of works of art collected by Tirrenia over the years, whether through legacies left by Italian shipping companies who began the process of amalgamation at the end of the nineteenth century, leading to the founding of Tirrenia in 1937, or through an astute acquisitions policy.
For the most part, the collection comprises paintings and sculptures of the late nineteenth century and twentieth century, but also includes four important canvases from the eighteenth century. 'Seascapes' are the dominant theme of the collection and at its heart are works created for the great trans-Atlantic ships, craft whose names have become legendary for those fortunate enough to have travelled on them: "Leonardo da Vinci", "Raffaello", "Esperia" and others less well known but equally well endowed with important works.
Among these, is a series of paintings by Alberto Savinio and the imposing "Composizione" (appealing depictions of life on the sea) by Mario Sironi, among the very few public commissions by the artist during the post war years. This is flanked by the nine little "Composizioni", never before shown, and which probably date from 1948.
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Of considerable note among the sculptures is the "Ritorno di Ulisse" by Emilio Greco. It possesses the pure beauty of a Greek metope. There is no scarcity of important names from Italian art in this century: Corpora, Santomaso, Savinio, Cascella, Fiume , Lippi, Pomodoro.
The collection is enhanced by the presence of a series of tapestries, created for the great cruise ships. Some of the greatest names in Italian post war painting are lined up together: Sanfilippo, Scordia, Sadun, Perilli and again Sironi. The tapestries are all present on loan from the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna di Roma.
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The Tirrenia board's motive for this initiative is not only that of making available for public use an artistic and monumental heritage which would otherwise only be enjoyed by a privileged few, but also to restore to its headquarters its primary role, which at least from the time of Leopold of Bourbon, has distinguished the building in Neapolitan artistic life, so that today the "Palazzo della Tirrenia" resonates not just as the "new" name for an ancient building, but indicates its role as a home of art and culture, which for centuries has been its greatest esteem.
The exhibition is curated by Nicola Spinosa, Direttore Soprintendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale Napoletano, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (Director of the Special Superintendency of Naples Museums, Ministry of Art and Heritage).
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