An exhibition displaying Mona Lisa’s finest variations

MIAMI, FL (AUGUST 2011) – Miami Dade College (MDC), the City of Miami, Galleria Ca’ d’Oro and the City of Margherita di Savoia will bring the debut of Mona Lisa Unveiled to MDC’s Freedom Tower.  From Margherita di Savoia to Miami, the recently rediscovered 16^th century painting, Nude Mona Lisa by Salai, Da Vinci’s favorite pupil is moving overseas.

Mona Lisa Unveiled will highlight a long list of artists’ interpretations of the world’s most famous portrait, from the sixteenth-century to present day.  Today they are all collected in this unique, never before displayed exhibition that aims to document and compare the many versions of the Mona Lisa in the world.

The thread linking Margherita di Savoia, Leonardo Da Vinci and Miami, is one of originality and experimentation, a point of strength in the connection between the two cities. This is essentially the same guiding thread that has been leading Galleria Ca’d’Oro for the past 40 years and that more recently has encountered the ingenuity of Mayor Gabriella Carlucci and the sponsors who sustained this initiative, conceived and inspired by the innovative spirit of the forward-looking Leonardo da Vinci.  A special note of appreciation must go to Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, President of Miami Dade College, for hosting this groundbreaking exhibition at the heart of downtown Miami’s iconic landmark, the Freedom Tower.

Galleria Ca’ d’Oro Art is backing the Mona Lisa Unveiled in Miami as part of its mission to bring Italian art to the U.S.  This exhibition has special meaning to Gloria Porcella, Director of Galleria Ca’ d’Oro, since her grandfather, Amadore Porcella, had studied the origins and possible attributions of the Nude Gioconda during his career as art critic for L’Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of the Vatican.

Gloria maintains her family’s interest regarding this important piece and has been fundamental in selecting Miami as its first stop outside of Italy.  Further, she has ensured that new artists are involved in the many reinterpretations that you will see in this exciting exhibition.

Margherita di Savoia is a seaside resort located along Italy’s Adriatic coast. At the exhibition opening, Mayors Regalado & Carlucci will sign a Sister City Agreement between the two cities.

The exhibition, free of charge, opens to the general public on August 26^th and will remain open until October. There will be a private, invitation-only reception on August 25^th at 6:30 p.m. at the Freedom tower where the exhibit will remain.

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