Filippo Lippi (Florence, c.1406-Spolète, 1469) and his son Filippino (Prato,c.1457-Florence,1504) figure amongst the most respected artists of Prato (in Tuscany, 15km north of Florence) in the 15th Century. This exhibition bring together around sixty paintings and sculptures from the 14th – 16th Century, and has never been seen in France before. Indeed many of the exhibits have never left Italy before…


Many artists (architects, sculptors, painters, etc.) flocked to Prato and the area, many in order to work on the Duomo building works. As chaplain of the convent of Saint Marguerite of Prato, Filippo led a particularly wild life and only the patronage of his patron Cosimo de Medici allowed him to escape Florentine justice. For example, Filippino was born of Filippo’s scandalous union with a nun, Lucrezia Buti; both were released from their vows through the intervention of Cosimo de Medici.

Filippo Lippi – Fra Diamante Vierge de la Ceinture entre saint Thomas et la commanditaire Bartolommea de ‘Bovacchiesi et les saints Grégoire, Augustin, Tobie , Marguerite et l’archange Raphaël, Détrempe grasse sur panneau. Museo Civico, Prato © Archivio Museo Civico di Prato

With the Prato museum closed for renovation, this exhibition is a unique occasion to discover the rich artistic heritage – lent during the works – of a city which incontestably was an important artistic centre during that period, thanks notably to the stylistic innovations brought about by Filippo, and later by Filippino Lippi during their respective sojourns in Prato. It also allows us to appreciate the Lippis’ influence in the creation of an innovating style, la Maniera, elaborated with their closest collaborators (mainly Fra Diamante and Domenico di Zanobi) and then relayed by their followers (Tommaso di Piero, aka il Trombetto, Luca Signorelli, Zanobi Poggini, Raffaellino del Garbo, among others). The prominent role of sculptors will also be underlined in a special section devoted to altars meant for private devotion (Donatello, Da Maiaono, della Robbia).

Filippo Lippi avec la collaboration de Domenico di Zanobi La Nativité avec saint Georges et saint Vincent Ferrer Détrempe sur panneau, Museo Civico, Prato © Archivio Museo Civico di Prato

Here’s all the essential information for the Filippo et Filippino Lippi – La Renaissance à Prato exhibition at the Musée du Luxembourg

When: 25th March – 2nd August 2009
Where: Musée du Luxembourg, 19 rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris. Métro Saint-Sulpice (line 4) or Rennes (line 12). RER B, station Luxembourg, Jardin du Luxembourg exit. Bus n°s 84, 58, 89
Opening hours: open every day. Monday, Friday, Saturday 10.30am – 10pm. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.30am – 7pm. Sundays 9.30am – 7pm
Admission: Adults 11 €, concessions 9 €, free for under 1à year-old with their family. Queue-jump tickets (more expensive! 12 € or 10 €, plus 2 € processing charge) available at www.billet-coupe-file.com at FNAC stores, etc.
More information: on the official site here

Bigger map here