Emporio Janetti Padre e Figli and the Japanese Art Market in Florence in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century

In the 1870s collecting Japanese art products started to be popular among a wider range of collectors, not only among circles of intellectuals, artists, and designers. This cultural phenomenon also reached Italy, and when a group of Japanese diplomats (Iwakura Mission) arrived in Florence in May 1873, it reported a very positive impression of a shop that sold Japanese goods. This article aims to clarify the context and background for this enthusiastic comment, using the archive of Frederick Stibbert (1838-1906), a British citizen born in Florence who created an impressive Japanese collection consisting mainly of armour and weapons, but also ceramics, textiles, and folding screens. Despite his immense wealth and extensive travels around Europe, Stibbert purchased most of the Japanese artworks through Florentine art dealers such as Janetti Padre e Figli, the shop probably referenced by the Japanese diplomats. As this article outlines, Janetti was able to establish a direct supply channel from Japan due to the help of Vittorio Aymonin (1826-1888), a silkworm-egg dealer who resided in Japan from 1867 to 1888. This discovery explains both the positive comment expressed by the Japanese diplomats, and the decision made by Frederick Stibbert of choosing Janetti as his favourite dealer of Japanese artworks from the late 1860s to the end of the 1880s

IL CANONE DI POLICLETO

Polykleitos, sculptor sophos, after the archaic volumina drawn up by the architects on individual buildings, is the first author who engaged in a theoretical activity, by writing a work entitled Canon, in all likelihood in the mid-5th c. BC. Throughout the centuries, this work circulated widely among erudites across different fields: one can find a few ‘quotations’ and paraphrases of it in authors of the early Hellenistic age. According to Chrysippus’ testimony, transmitted by Galen, Polykleitos first wrote this work and then tested his theories by crafting a statue, to which he gave the same title as his treatise, Canon. The paper focuses on a critical analysis of all this evidence in order to address several controversial points concerning Polykleitos’ oeuvre, including the identification of the statue entitled Canon with a lost bronze archetype transmitted by many marble replicas, and which has traditionally been seen to coincide with the well-known Doryphoros. The last part of the article is devoted to a comparison between Polykleitos and Lysippos based on the ancient sources. The two great sculptors are more or less explicitly mentioned in some epigrams in the section about the andriantopoiika by the Hellenistic poet Posiddipus of Pella (as revealed especially by the new anthology discovered in a Milanese papyrus), who set them in contrast to one another. In the Hellenistic period a new canon was introduced: the canon of truth

"Pendono interrotte le opere". Antichi monumenti incompiuti nel mondo greco

"Pendono interrotte le opere…", recita un celebre verso nel quarto libro dell’Eneide, quando a Cartagine, in conseguenza della passione di Didone per Enea, il fervore dei cantieri, si è improvvisamente fermato. In età contemporanea l’incompiuto, oltre che nelle arti figurative e in letteratura, suscita molto interesse nel campo dell’architettura, perché rappresentativo delle condizioni di provvisorietà e di precarietà del secolo da poco iniziato. Questo libro si concentra sulle cause e sulla percezione dei diversi monumenti incompiuti del mondo greco dall’età arcaica in poi ed esamina in dettaglio le vicende di alcuni edifici interrotti e/o contraddistinti dalla presenza di parti lasciate in diversi stadi di lavorazione e mai giunte alla fine (telos) grazie alle evidenze archeologiche, epigrafiche e letterarie. Risalenti ai tanti secoli compresi tra l’età arcaica e almeno la tarda epoca imperiale, quelle costruzioni sono ovunque e appartengono a una vasta area geografica, dalla Grecia continentale alla Magna Grecia e all’area microasiatica. Al centro dell’interesse è quindi quanto in architettura poteva valere come atelēs, hēmitelēs, hēmiergos, inchoatus, imperfectus; tutti vocaboli che traduciamo, in modo più approssimativo, con aggettivi privativi del genere di non finito, non rifinito, incompiuto, incompleto, interrotto e imperfetto, spesso impiegati come sinonimi; ma non è poi detto che tutto quello che abbiamo la tendenza oggi a considerare tale fosse giudicato in maniera analoga dagli Antichi

Transcultural flows from Japan to the North East of England 1862-1913: visual and material culture in relation to the Anglo-Japanese interaction

This thesis investigates the relationship between Japan and Britain through the promotion, diffusion, reception, and appreciation of Japanese visual and material culture in the North East of England between 1862 and 1913, focusing on both art and design as well as high and popular culture. This regional study clearly demonstrates the nuanced ways in which the Anglo-Japanese transcultural relationship evolved during the Victorian period, – more so than previous art historical studies which focused broadly on Anglo-Japanese exchange or on the works of specific artists or designers. In addition to re-evaluating the international trade and diplomatic relation between the Asian country and the British region from a cultural standpoint, this study sheds light for the first time on the ways in which Japan, its culture, and its people were presented and domesticated in both urban and rural communities of the North East through images of Japan and Japanese objects. Rather than accepting a simplistic and strict dichotomy between “East” and “West,” Japanese visual and material culture has been analysed through the concept of transculturality, which facilitates the identification of the multiple – and occasionally contradictory – ways in which Japanese textiles, fans, screens, ceramics, and other decorative articles, have been discussed, purchased, displayed and consumed in different “contact zones” such as regional newspapers, public events, charity bazaars, shops, and domestic interiors. This thesis argues that the dualism between a pre-modern and unchanging “Old” Japan and an industrialised and militaristic “New” Japan became a daily topic of much interest even in rural areas of the North East thanks to cultural mobilisers such as newspaper journalists, lecturers, museum curators, performers, companies of decorators, retailers, and authors of domestic advice literature. While reinforcing an unequal power relationship between the dominant British Empire and subaltern Meiji Japan, the resulting image of the Asian country was characterised by an ambiguity which not only favoured the diffusion of cosmopolitan liberalism, but also partly questioned strict dichotomies such as Self/Other and masculine/feminine encoded in the racial discourse concerning Japanese culture in Britain. This comprehensive investigation of the multiple ways in which the North East was entangled with a transcultural phenomenon such as the European and American enthusiasm for everything Japanese opens new grounds of enquiry providing a more nuanced understanding of the everyday experience of foreign cultures in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods

Effects of Vitamin E-Stabilized Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene on Oxidative Stress Response and Osteoimmunological Response in Human Osteoblast

High Crosslink process was introduced in the development of joint prosthetic devices, in order to decrease the wear rate of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), but it also triggers the formation of free radicals and oxidative stress, which affects the physiological bone remodeling, leading to osteolysis. Vitamin E stabilization of UHMWPE was proposed to provide oxidation resistance without affecting mechanical properties and fatigue strength. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant effect of vitamin E added to UHMWPE on oxidative stress induced osteolysis, focusing in particular on the oxidative stress response in correlation with the production of osteoimmunological markers, Sclerostin and DKK-1, and the RANKL/OPG ratio compared to conventional UHMWPE wear debris. Human osteoblastic cell line SaOS2 were incubated for 96 h with wear particles derived from crosslinked and not crosslinked Vitamin E-stabilized, UHMWPE without Vitamin E, and growth medium as control. Cellular response to oxidative stress, compared to not treat cells, was evaluated in terms of proteins O-GlcNAcylation, cellular levels of OGA, and OGT proteins by immunoblotting. O-GlcNAcylation and its positive regulator OGT levels are increased in the presence of Vitamin E blended UHMWPE, in particular with not crosslinked Vit E stabilized UHMWPE. Conversely, the negative regulator OGA increased in the presence of UHMWPE not blended with Vitamin E. Vitamin E-stabilized UHMWPE induced a decrease of RANKL/OPG ratio compared to UHMWPE without Vitamin E, and the same effect was observed for Sclerostin, while DKK-1 was not significantly affected. In conclusion, Vitamin E stabilization of UHMWPE increased osteoblast response to oxidative stress, inducing a cellular mechanism aimed at cell survival. Vitamin E antioxidant effect influences the secretion of osteoimmunological factors, shifting the bone turnover balance toward bone protection stimuli. This suggests that Vitamin E-Stabilization of UHMWPE could contribute to reduction of oxidation-induced osteolysis and the consequent loosening of the prosthetic devices, therefore improving the longevity of total joint replacements

The cypsela (achene) of Echinacea purpurea as a diffusion unit of a community of microorganisms

Echinacea purpurea is a plant cultivated worldwide for its pharmaceutical properties, mainly related to the stimulation of the immune system in the treatment of respiratory infections. The cypselas (fruits) of E. purpurea were examined in order to investigate the presence, localization and potential function(s) of endophytic microorganisms. Electron and confocal microscopy observations showed that three different components of microorganisms were associated to cypselas of E. purpurea: (i) one endocellular bacterial component in the cotyledons, enclosed within the host membrane; (ii) another more generic bacterial component adhering to the external side of the perianth; and (iii) a fungal component inside the porous layer of the perianth, the woody and porous modified residual of the flower, in the form of numerous hyphae able to cross the wall between adjacent cells. Isolated bacteria were affiliated to the genera Paenibacillus, Pantoea, and Sanguibacter. Plate tests showed a general resistance to six different antibiotics and also to an antimicrobial-producing Rheinheimera sp. test strain. Finally, microbiome-deprived E. purpurea seeds showed a reduced ability to germinate, suggesting an active role of the microbiome in the plant vitality. Our results suggest that the endophytic bacterial community of E. purpurea, previously found in roots and stem/leaves, might be already carried at the seed stage, hosted by the cotyledons. A further microbial fungal component is transported together with the seed in the perianth of the cypsela, whose remarkable structure may be considered as an adaptation for fungal transportation, and could influence the capability of the seed to germinate in the soil

Bilder der Macht. Das griechische Porträt und seine Verwendung in der antiken Welt

Die Beiträge des Bandes untersuchen, wie Formen und Möglichkeiten des griechischen Porträts außerhalb des Kulturraums, in dem sie zunächst entstanden waren, aufgenommen und für die Zwecke und Anliegen von lokalen Eliten eingesetzt worden sind. Die Gattung der Porträtstatuen erfüllte in Griechenland zentrale gesellschaftliche Aufgaben. Seit dem späten 5. Jh. v. Chr. haben auch andere Gesellschaften die Mög- lichkeiten des Porträts für eigene Zwecke übernommen. Das gilt für Mittelitalien ebenso wie für Zypern und die westlichen Randgebiete des Perserreiches. Die Expan- sion des hellenistischen Kulturraums seit Alexander dem Großen machte auch die Länder Mittelasiens mit den Möglichkeiten des Porträts bekannt und führte dazu, das entsprechende Phänomene eine weite Verbrei- tung fanden. Später war es vor allem und in besonderem Maße Rom, das die Bildniskunst instrumentalisierte und für ihre weiträumige Verbreitung sorgte

How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice

Arte romana (seconda edizione rivista e aggiornata)

Il volume costituisce una versione arricchita e aggiornata di un libro già edito nel 2016 sull'arte romana, presentata nella prima parte in ordine cronologico dal periodo repubblicano alla tarda antichità e articolata nella seconda per temi e per materiali

Opus imperfectum. Monumenti e testi incompiuti del mondo greco e romano.

Il volume raccoglie gli atti di un convegno dedicato al tema delle opere incompiute del mondo antico: architetture, sculture, pitture e testi