Hayez, Boldini, Casorati

The exhibition, curated by Elisabetta Chiodini, offers a rich and fascinating journey through the history of fashion and the profound evolution of dress and taste in society from the beginning of the’Nineteenth century and the early years Winds of the Twentieth Century. The exhibition is organised into eight chronological sections which wind their way through the prestigious halls of the Castle of Novara, creating a constant dialogue between masterpieces of painting and period costumes and original accessories from the Milan’s Civic Collections by Palazzo Morando and from valuable private collections.

This stylistic journey begins with the neoclassical dress and its Greco-Roman-inspired lines, as depicted in the famous portraits curated by Andrea Appiani, before going on to document the evolution of fashion during the Romantic period, as shaped by masters such as Francis Hayez, characterised by wide sleeves and bell-shaped silhouettes. As the exhibition continues, it documents the introduction of the crinoline and the ingenious transformation of the silhouette championed by Charles Frederick Worth, the father of haute couture, as well as the creations from the second half of the century depicted by Silvestro Lega, Giuseppe De Nittis e Giovanni Boldini.

Ample space is also devoted to social customs, with paintings by Daniele Ranzoni, Edoardo Gelli e Vittorio Matteo Corcos, right up to the avant-garde movements of the Twentieth century led by masters of the calibre of Felice Casorati, Pietro Marussig e Federico Faruffini. Particularly striking is the section focusing on women’s smoking, seen as a genuine cultural phenomenon of emancipation. Among the precious original items on display are vintage accessories such as gloves, fans, handbags and shoes, as well as splendid dresses created by historic Milanese tailors such as the Marianna Cantelli Tailors and the Laura Lombardi and Sisters Tailors.