Piero di Cosimo’s Magdalene at Palazzo Venezia: Art, History and

Exhibition overview

From 17 April to 5 July 2026, the Ancient Kitchens of Palazzo Venezia present an exhibition built around a key panel by Piero di Cosimo (1462–1522) depicting Mary Magdalene. The show investigates women's experiences in Renaissance Florence through art and material culture.

What to expect

The exhibition combines art-historical analysis with social and material history. Centered on the Piero di Cosimo panel loaned from national collections, it displays documents and some sixty objects — textiles, ceramics, glass, jewelry, illuminated manuscripts and furniture — that illuminate everyday life for women of the period.

Exhibition structure

• Artwork study: iconographic and stylistic reading of the Magdalene within Piero di Cosimo's oeuvre.
• Daily lives: birth, education, devotion, marriage, motherhood and household management as documented by texts and objects.
• Decorative arts: the role of fabrics, glassware, ceramics and jewelry as integral parts of the Renaissance aesthetic and production system.

Research and interpretation

The interdisciplinary project brings together numerous scholars and Italian institutions. A comprehensive digital educational package includes video installations and a multimedia room demonstrating the craft techniques behind the exhibited objects.

Programs and activities

• Guided tours and educational workshops for children.
• Hands-on workshops about making ceramics, glass and textiles.
• Public lectures and the presentation of a scholarly volume tied to the exhibition.
• Special cultural events such as live performances and musical programs hosted by the museum.

Practical information

Venue: Ancient Kitchens, Palazzo Venezia, Rome.

Dates: 17 April – 5 July 2026.

Opening hours: daily 9:30 AM–7:30 PM (last admission 6:45 PM).

Tickets: admission to the museum with the exhibition included. Full €18; reduced €5; statutory free admissions for eligible visitors.

Why visit

This exhibition provides a tangible, multidisciplinary approach to understanding women's roles in the Renaissance: artworks placed alongside everyday objects reveal skills, trades, devotions and social relationships, and show how fine art and decorative crafts formed a shared cultural landscape.