This innovative and technically demanding practice, unlike traditional canvas painting, gave the illusion of greater resistance to the ravages of time and elements. It positioned itself as a legitimate and compelling language in the age-old rivalry between painting and sculpture.

The exhibition in Bergamo invites visitors to discover this lesser-known chapter in art history, revealing the expressive potential of a medium that, since ancient times, has symbolized moral strength and faith, evoked alchemical allure, embodied metaphors and symbolism, and aspired to eternity.

From Rome to Florence, from Genoa to the Veneto, this technique—once beloved and then gradually abandoned within little more than a century—engaged prominent artists featured in the exhibition, including Paolo Veronese, Jacopo Bassano, Palma il Giovane, Antonio Tempesta, and Salvator Rosa.