Luigi Valadier: Splendor in Eighteenth-Century Rome was an exhibition displayed at The Frick Collection in Manhattan from October 31, 2018 and January 20, 2019. This exhibition is one of three produced by the Frick Collection meant to highlight historically overlooked decorative artists. Scholar, researcher, and curator, Alvar González-Palacios in collaboration with art critic, Xavier F. Salomon curated the first museum exhibition devoted to the works of Luigi Valadier in the United States. This collection looks to introduce the wider public to the splendid objects to come from Luigi Valadier’s busy workshop in 18th century Rome. The collection includes a wide range of objects meant for both private and religious display, all of which are covered in meticulous designs, precious metals, and rare stones. Valadier himself is a rather tragic figure, as despite being consistently employed by some of the richest families in Europe, he found himself in a great deal of debt at the end of his life. Debt which is believed to have been a result of a large amount of unpaid commissions. This lead to Valadier’s suicide by drowning in 1785. It was at this time that his workshop would be passed on to his son Giuseppe, who would go on to compile a complete inventory manuscript of his father’s works, tools, and materials. This manuscript was crucial to the later exhibition of Valadier’s works. 

The collection was displayed in three sections. The lower level south gallery displays secular work. Across the vestibule, the lower level north gallery displays ecclesiastical work. Both of these lower level galleries show the work in low-lit rooms with dark blue walls. On the ground floor of the Frick, in an oval room Valadier’s table Centerpieces are displayed in the center of the room, placed in a style which is meant to reflect the Roman Forum. This room is opened up to the larger museum, making the room brighter than the other galleries in the collection. While the exhibit is no longer on display, The Frick Collection website offers high resolution photos of all of the objects in the collection, as well as a virtual tour which shows the objects as they were placed during the time of the exhibition. 

Bibliography:

González-Palacios, Alvar. “Two Candelabra by Luigi Valadier from Palazzo Borghese.” Metropolitan Museum Journal, vol. 30, [University of Chicago Press, Metropolitan Museum of Art], 1995, pp. 97–102, https://doi.org/10.2307/1512953.“

“Herm of Bacchus.” Galleria Borghese, 13 July 2020, https://www.galleriaborghese.net/portfolio-items/herm-of-bacchus/.

Introduction.” Introduction | The Frick Collection, https://www.frick.org/exhibitions/valadier/introduction.

“Luigi Valadier, Splendor in Eighteenth Century Rome.” YouTube, uploaded by The Frick Collection, 7 November 2018,

“Past Exhibition.” The Frick Collection, https://www.frick.org/exhibitions/valadier.

Roworth, Wendy Wassying. “Rethinking Eighteenth-Century Rome.” The Art Bulletin, vol. 83, no. 1, [Taylor & Francis, Ltd., College Art Association], 2001, pp. 135–44, https://doi.org/10.2307/3177194.

Smith, Roberta. “Luxuries of Long Ago, Fit for a Royal Banquet.” New York Times, 28 Dec. 2018, p. C13(L). Gale Academic OneFile,  link.gale.com/apps/doc/A567506269/AONE?u=newpaltz&sid=bookmark- AONE&xid=a0ccea16. Accessed 2 Oct. 2021.