Zandomeneghi and Degas – a friendship in art on display in Rovigo

From 27 February to 28 June 2026, the elegant rooms of Palazzo Roverella in Rovigo will host the exhibition Zandomeneghi and Degas, a fascinating exhibition project dedicated to the artistic dialogue between Federico Zandomeneghi and Edgar Degas, leading figures of the Impressionist movement in Italy and France.

Are you ready to discover it with us?

Zandomeneghi and Degas — elective affinities between Venice and Paris

Considered artists fully integrated into the Impressionist movement, Zandomeneghi and Degas enjoyed a friendship that began when they met in Paris. The former, born in Venice in 1841 and trained through contact with the Macchiaioli, became part of the Impressionist movement through his works characterised by a focus on female figures and everyday scenes and the use of bright, soft colours highlighted by the use of pastels. These include, for example, Place d'Anvers (1880), Girl with a White Collar (1890) and The Curl (1894 - 1905).

                                                                                             Place d'Anvers (1880), Federico Zandomeneghi

Edgar Degas, born in Paris in 1834, received a solid academic education and travelled extensively in Italy studying the Renaissance masters. He distinguished himself for his technique, which led him to experiment with the use of pastels in both painting and sculpture, resulting in the creation of works such as Young Spartans (1860-1862), Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer (1878), Dancers (1884-1885) and Le tube (1886).

                                                                                                          Ballerinas (1884-1885), Edgar Degas

While Degas is famous for his ballerinas and his exploration of movement, Zandomeneghi developed an intimate and luminous style of painting, focusing primarily on female figures captured in everyday moments. The planned exhibition highlights, on the one hand, Degas' rigorous and almost scientific observation and, on the other, Zandomeneghi's chromatic sensitivity and narrative gentleness. A comparison that recounts late 19th-century Paris, a crossroads of modernity and artistic experimentation.

The exhibition at Palazzo Roverella - a journey through European Impressionism

The exhibition, curated by Francesca Dini, is open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (with additional opening hours on Saturdays and Sundays) and is conceived as a thematic itinerary that explores:

• Zandomeneghi's move to Paris and his encounter with the Impressionists
• His relationship with Degas and their shared interest in the female figure
• Modern life: theatres, cafés, bourgeois interiors
• The role of the market and collectors in the spread of Impressionism

                                            At the theatre, Federico Zandomeneghi, 1895 - image taken from the social media profile of Palazzo Roverella

                                                      Ballet Class, Edgar Degas, 1880 - image taken from the Palazzo Roverella social media profile

Through paintings, pastels and works from public and private collections, the exhibition recreates the cultural climate of fin de siècle Paris and the original contribution of an Italian artist, often less known to the general public but central to the Impressionist scene. Particular attention is paid to the theme of female intimacy, explored with different but complementary sensibilities by the two artists: Degas with innovative and dynamic cuts, Zandomeneghi with a warm and enveloping palette.

Tickets and additional information

The exhibition can be visited, with the option of a guided tour and audio guide, at a cost of:

• FULL PRICE - £14
• OPEN - £14
  Ticket with no restrictions on days or times, available for purchase online only (valid from the day after purchase)
• REDUCED - £12
  Visit the Reductions and Conventions sections to find out who is entitled to the reduced rate.
• GROUP TICKET (15-25 PEOPLE) - £12
• SPECIAL FOR SCHOOLS - £3
  Students from all schools with free admission for accompanying adults/teachers; children and young people participating in Sunday workshops.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Palazzo Roverella is easily accessible by train from Rovigo railway station towards Via Angeli and by car, following the A13 motorway towards Rovigo, with parking available at the nearby multi-storey car park.

Don't miss this eagerly awaited exhibition!

Discover also the exhibition dedicated to Bernini and Barberini in Rome!