Giambattista Tiepolo (1696-1770) was one of the greatest exponents of Rococo and the last great protagonist of monumental decoration. One of the most popular painters of his time, he was a globetrotter who frequented the leading courts in Europe.

His attitude and greatness are celebrated by the exhibition "Tiepolo. Venice, Milan, Europe", opened on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of his death, in one of the cities that hosted him for the longest time: Milan. The dense exhibition itinerary is located at the Gallerie d'Italia - Piazza Scala, the Milanese museum headquarters of Intesa Sanpaolo, and includes about 70 works by Tiepolo and some of his contemporaries, with paintings from national and international collections.

Under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic and in partnership with the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, the exhibition open until 21 March 2021 retraces the artistic career of the Venetian master, his main commissions in the cities where he was a protagonist: Venice, Milan, Dresden and Madrid. The exhibition, curated by Fernando Mazzocca and Alessandro Morandotti, tells the story of Tiepolo's international success, starting from the years of his training in Venice and ending with his consecration in the great European courts.

Among the many works on display are the youthful mythologies of the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice; we see the great cycles of canvases for the Venetian palaces, decorated by the ambitious families of new ennoblement; there are the frescoes in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and the one painted for Palazzo Gallarati Scotti, both restored for the occasion; the years spent in Germany and Spain are also represented, in which a close collaboration between Tiepolo and his sons developed, particularly with Giandomenico.

"Tiepolo. Venice, Milan, Europe", is an extremely dense exhibition, which brings Tiepolo's vision to Milan for the first time. Giovanni Bazoli, Chairman Emeritus of Intesa Sanpaolo, tells of the great effort made to continue to keep the cultural offer alive in a context like this: "Intesa Sanpaolo's traditional commitment to support art and culture takes on particular significance today, in light of the dramatic events that are affecting the country and the world. In spite of the difficult situation caused by the health emergency, we have decided to open the Gallerie d'Italia in Milan with a major exhibition to offer the citizens, who are obliged to reduce the usual spaces of common life, the opportunity to admire masterpieces of art, capable – we hope – of bringing back moments of serenity and trust".