SNAKES: from Eve to Cleopatra, from Marchesa Casati to Bulgari …seduction, temptation, transformation, for that fascinate us so much. Rome celebrates them!

1 a

Nastassja Kinski, photo by Richard Avedon, 1981

“Cleopatra” by Beatrice Brandini

In the beautiful Palazzo Braschi in Rome (magnificent lounges with refined neoclassical stucco), there is an exhibition promoted by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage Capitolina, designed and created by Bulgari: “SerpentiForm – Art, Jewellery, Design.” Exhibition dedicated to the many creative ways that the serpent has taken in the arts, from antiquity to the present day. I have collected some photos of the exhibition, adding others that I find always very interesting.

3 Bulgari 1960

Bulgari bracelet-watch, 1960

4 bracciale orologio 1968

Bulgari bracelet-watch, 1968

5 collier Bulgari 1969

Bulgari collier, 1969

6 Fornasetti Amiamo il serpente tappeto

Carpet of Fornasetti “We love the snake”

7 Pantelmina

Joana Vasconcelos “Pantelmina#3”, 2001

8

Fortunato Depero “Quattro serpenti”, 1925

And in fact, already in ancient Rome that the snakes were the protagonists of jewelry, as well as in Egypt, China and India. Greetings, taking from time to time divine powers, fertility, creation or immortality.

9 giampaolo barbieri 1975

Veruschka photographed by Giampaolo Barbieri, Vogue Italy 1975

10 Veruschka michel Comte

Veruschka photographed by Michael Comte

Snakeman 1981 by Robert Mapplethorpe 1946-1989

Photo by Robert Mapplethorpe

12 david La Chapelle

Photo by David La Chapelle

13 mario sorrenti 1997

Kate Moss photographed by Mario Sorrenti, 1997

The snake is in our imagination a symbol, a legendary figure who has taken over the centuries many meanings. Symbol of temptation, from Adam and Eve to the Little Prince; the metamorphosis that could be a metaphor for the human (change skin behind a great suffering); of betrayal, with its venom; inevitability, in its life cycle is the eternity and indestructibility of nature, namely that the basic concept, often forgotten, in which nothing is created and nothing is destroyed; sexuality, some tribes still revere him as a symbol of fertility, and is often translated as a phallic symbol …

14 alexander Calder

Alexander Calder

15 Pouf Serpent 1982 Niki De Saint Phalle

Pouf by Niki the Saint Phalle, 1982

16 niki the saint phalle

Niki the Saint Phalle sculpture

17 keith haring

Keith Haring

18 Keith haring

Keith Haring USA 19 – 82

19 piero dorazio serpente 1968

Piero Dorazio “Serpente”, 1968

Bulgari has made a sort of talisman, stylistic stamp, iconic characterization of its high jewelry, transforming the snakes into a curved watches-bracelet that, from the forties to the present, have always characterized its collections.

20 GucciCollage   21 gucci

The beautiful collection of Gucci for S / S 2016

22 Gucci_SS2016

Gucci S/S 2016 collection

23

Beautiful Giuseppe Zanotti shoes

24 dolce e gabbana 2016

Dolce & Gabbana, S/S 2016

25

Roberto Cavalli

The exhibition, in addition to presenting those jewels that we all know, we have dreamed at least once in their life, or seen worn by unforgettable women, shows that the snake has inspired the work of great artists, through photography, painting, fashion or design.

26 snake-fashion-photography

Raquel Zimmermann photographed by Nick Knight

27 jurgen teller

Kate Moss photographed by Juergen Teller

28 Lara-Stone-Interview-cover-with-snake

Lara Stone photographed by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott

The exhibition also highlights the continuing relationship that the snake has always had with fashion, in fact, present many beautiful creations vintage, from theater archives or from movie sets, in which a prominent part is dedicated to the costumes worn by Elizabeth Taylor the 1963 for the film Cleopatra.

29 cintura Bulgari 2010

Bulgari Belt, 2010

30 bracciale-serpenti-bulgari

Snake bracelet by Bulgari

31 Cleopatra

Elizabeth Taylor in the film Cleopatra, 1963

32

Cleopatra costumes in the exhibition

33

Glimpses of the magnificent Bulgari jewels inspired by the snake

Personally, I am terrified of snakes, but I recognize that it is one of the most beautiful forms and iconography that we can take from nature and make accessories, prints, patterns or magical details.

34 Guido Mocafico    35

Great pictures of Guido Mocafico

It’s really a beautiful exhibition to see, where art, fashion and magnificent jewelry are based and complement, an inspiration for creative or just for curious people who love beauty.

    

“Snakes Mood” by Beatrice Brandini

    

“Snakes Mood” by Beatrice Brandini

37 Eva

Eva by Beatrice Brandini

36 valentino 1971

Blouson by Valentino, 1971

Good life to all!

Beatrice

Un commento su “SNAKES: from Eve to Cleopatra, from Marchesa Casati to Bulgari …seduction, temptation, transformation, for that fascinate us so much. Rome celebrates them!

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