Belle Époque

From October 15, 2025, to April 7, 2026, Palazzo Blu shines a spotlight on one of the most elegant and captivating periods in European history: the Belle Époque.

Curated by Professor Francesca Dini and organized by the Fondazione Palazzo Blu in collaboration with MondoMostre and with the support of Fondazione Pisa, the exhibition celebrates the elegance, artistic vitality, and modernity that made fin-de-siècle Paris the cultural heart of the world.

On display are over 100 works from major Italian and international institutions – including the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Uffizi Galleries, Pinacoteca Giuseppe De Nittis of Barletta and the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte – along with paintings from private collections shown to the public for the first time.

The exhibition unfolds in thematic sections that trace the major moments of this extraordinary era: from the political upheavals of 1870 to the rise of modern Paris. A rich cultural journey through the fashionable portraits of Boldini, Sargent, and Helleu, the urban landscapes of De Nittis, the impressionist echoes of Zandomeneghi, and the cosmopolitan elegance of the Maison Goupil.

An immersive experience that weaves together art, literature, science, and lifestyle, offering a glimpse into a unique moment in time that continues to enchant and inspire.