Je vous écris de Pise. Pisa in the album of a French family of the nineteenth century

26 Sept 2015 - 17 Jan 2016: 'Je vous ècris de Pise', an unforgettable drawing exhibition that will revive the 19th-century atmosphere of the city

From 26 September 2015 to 17 January 2016

One of the most original Pisa events and exhibitions in 2015 is about to open its doors at Palazzo Blu in Pisa -, entitled 'Je vous ècris de Pise' - Pisa in the album of a French family of the 19th century'. Approximately 60 drawings on display, all owned by the Pisa Foundation, testify to the great importance of the role that the city of the Tower held at the time of the Grand Tour, the famous instructive journey that, in the 19th century, many scions of the noble families of all Europe undertook. One of the favourite destinations of these young aristocrats was Tuscany and, in particular, the city of Pisa: there were more than 120 English, French and Russian families every year staying in this city in the mid-1800s, especially during the winter season, in the most exclusive hotels or in historic palaces.
Often, it was possible to see them walk along the Arno river in Pisa, making it a source of inspiration for Giacomo Leopardi. In 1827, he wrote to his sister “I have not seen anything like it either in Florence or Milan or Rome ... at certain times of the day the district is full of the world, full of coaches and pedestrians, and you can hear ten or twenty languages...'

This extraordinary Pisa art exhibition at Palazzo Blu in Pisa will allow visitors to see the drawings close up, a real graphic reportage of the places visited by young aristocrats during the Grand Tour.
'Je vous ècris de Pise' presents in particular the reportage of a French family of the 19th century: the drawings of the exhibition in Pisa are part of a larger collection made just before the mid-19th century, and represent Pisa, its most famous places and the outlying villages such as the Baths of St Giuliano and the Arno river. These areas, over the centuries, have changed radically, so the comparison with the contemporary reality will make the show even more attractive and exciting.

'Je vous ècris de Pise' for Pisa events at the Palazzo Blu in Pisa from 26 September 2015 to 17 January 2016, is also an opportunity to communicate the exact authorship of the drawings, which came to light thanks to the papers presented in this must-see exhibition in Pisa. These are the letters sent by the French family to loved ones during their stay in Tuscany, which contain detailed descriptions of Pisa and its surroundings and will be directly related to the drawings in the Pisa art exhibition at Palazzo Blu in Pisa.
As mentioned earlier, this correspondence is of fundamental importance to be able to give a more certain attribution to the drawings: to date they were believed to be by Cecile De La Zèlica Morinière, but the real authors were the aunt Adèle Poussilegue and, a to a lesser degree, Grandma Stanilas-Pierre-Albine who, since 1833, lived by the romantic Arno river in Pisa.

'Je vous ècris de Pise. Pisa in the album of a French family of the 19th century', one of the most interesting current events in Pisa Italy this year, will be joined by the homonymous book written by Alexander Panajia after twenty years of study and discussion of this matter. The book, published by Ets, describes in detail the life of Pisa in the 19th century, the community and its highly cosmopolitan culture.
As pointed out by the Mayor Marco Filippeschi in the preface of the book, through the evocative illustrations in this Pisa exhibition 2015 there emerges not only the charm that has always characterized Pisa, but also the old established relations with France, still today existing and important for the economy of the city.
It must be stressed, moreover, a very important aspect of the work of Panajia, which is the will to bring the public closer to the world of archives, until now considered mysterious and sometimes impenetrable but that can help, in a decisive manner, the process of integration that is currently taking place in the European Union.

The landscapes and atmosphere present in 'Je vous ècris de Pise', scheduled between special events in Pisa in 2015, and its volume, are able to describe perfectly what the French loved in the 19th century, with really exceptional realism and romanticism.

As called for by Isabelle Mallez, honorary consul of France in Florence and director of the Institut Français, the hope is that the exhibition 'Je vous ècris de Pise' will have a resonance that will establish in France the figure of Adèle Poussielgue, a woman great elegance and innate artistic talent.

Palazzo Blu and Pisa and events in Pisa 2015 are pleased to present 'Je vous ècris de Pise. Pisa in the album of a French family of the 19th century': the original exhibition of 19th century drawings awaits you from September 26 2015 to January 17, 2016. Do not miss one of the most fascinating cultural events in Pisa!

Also, while you are in the area, why not book one of our hotel in Pisa and discover with us all the beauties of the city of the leaning tower? And if you can treat yourself to a few days, take a look at our proposals for tours in Tuscany: you can choose from original art itineraries or tasty wine tasting tours among the gently rolling hills of this amazing region!

Pisa exhibition 2015 Palazzo Blu in Pisa invite you to 'Je vous ècris de Pise. Pisa in the album of a French family of the 19th century'

Dates: 26 September 2015 to 17 January 2016

Location: Palazzo Blu Pisa - Lungarno Gambacorti, 9