Leonardo, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Modigliani, Stradivari and Canova: these are but a few of the many great Italian artists who have found a home in American museums. However there is also another way to explore the great depth and breadth of beauty that Italy has to offer: www.ItalyinUS.org now carries “Italian Treasures in the US”, an online catalog which allows visitors access to 668 works of art by 345 artists in some 39 museums throughout America. Wide-ranging and diverse, the collection includes paintings and sculptures, design objects and select musical instruments – all of which can be browsed by artist, period, type, museum or keyword.
“Italian Treasures in the US features many beautiful works, and is the product of long and intense research which we committed much energy and resources to,” commented the Ambassador of Italy in Washington, Armando Varricchio. “In addition, it can evolve over time. Many works have been catalogued, but there is still room to expand the project to other American museums which might wish to participate in the future. I hope all lovers of Italian art will enjoy it, especially as it gives the opportunity to unlock, with just a few clicks, an unprecedented wealth of information.”
This online platform complements the printed catalog curated last year by the Italian Embassy’s Cultural Attaché, Renato Miracco, which was presented this past April at the Library of Congress in Washington.
Italian Treasures is truly a feather in the cap for www.ItalyInUS.org , the culture portal of Italian diplomacy in the US created after the successful experience of 2013 – Year of Italian Culture in the United States. The portal has since been developed and enriched with new tools, to include: ample room for social media, tweets from the Italian consular and diplomatic network as well as from ICE (Italian Institute for Foreign Trade), ENIT (Italian Government Tourist Board), the Italian Chambers of Commerce in the US, and Facebook, which refers back to its “twin” page – https://www.facebook.com/ItalyInUs.org – dedicated to Italian culture. In addition, it carries newsletters sent by Institutes of Culture and Consulates in the United States and a “Discover Italy” section with tips on travel itineraries. Not to mention the listing of important events, addresses of Italian schools, language courses, Made in Italy websites, theatres and museums. Through interactive maps on its home page, the portal offers a snapshot – “from sea to shining sea” – of main cultural events, as well as of the impressive array of cultural centers, museums, associations and universities which promote Italy in the United States: hundreds of partners who develop ideas and projects, provide useful information and services, and help to strengthen the image and knowledge of Italy on this side of the Atlantic.
Our goals are simplicity and speed, thoroughness and focus on design, which are entrusted to the Rovatti Design agency in Milan.
“ItalyinUS aims at showcasing – as per its name – Italy in the United States and at strengthening its well-founded image of a fascinating and dynamic country,” continued Ambassador Varricchio. “More importantly, its goal is to encourage the sharing of ideas, projects and energy. We welcome visitors’ comments, which play a pivotal role in helping us to continuously improve this site.”
