The history of Palazzo Caracciolo dates back to Angevin times when Carlo II d'Angiò had a castle erected on the spot where Palazzo Caracciolo Santobono would rise in the Carbonara area in which gladiatorial games, jousts and tournaments were held. In 1309 King Roberto d'Angiò donated the castle to Landolfo Caracciolo but on one condition that on the days of the games the king would occupy the palace to enjoy the spectacles and that no one would dare to build a higher palace so it would not obstruct the view.
In 1383 the cessation of the games was ordered, and where fighting was taking place the church of Pietatella was built, which can be seen today at the corner of the Church of San Giovanni a Carbonara. In 1442, with Alfonso d'Aragona, the Caracciolo palace became the seat of the court of the Sacred Royal Council. In 1648 Henry of Lorraine, Duce and Protector of the Most Serene Royal Neapolitan Republic, during the revolution known as Masaniello, wanted to stay closer to the heart of the city so he chose the abandoned palace of Don Ferrante Caracciolo Prince of Santo Buono. On April 6 of the same year the palace was sacked during the revolution and so the Duke of Lorena abandoned it to retire to Apulia. Once the riots were quelled, the palace returned to the Caracciolo Santobuono family.
Today the palace is home to one of the most beautiful hotels in Naples.
Offsite - the Artwork.
Famija by Daniela Galliano
The artwork Famija consists of seven painted ceramic vases made in collaboration with FACC (Faenza Art Ceramic Center).
"Galliano's vases observe us, listen to us and speak to us.
All seven are ready to begin a tribal ritual, a sacred rite that has a mapping on the bodies marked by the shapes of “Anything” (the artist's own work) and some precious gold-colored traces.
The painter, like the ancient ceramographers, reserves for himself the exclusive role of narrating his surreal black-and-white visions that lend dynamism to the scenes depicted.
Anthropomorphic vases as were Egyptian and Etruscan canopic jars but actualized to function as objects between design and contemporary art.
To these monumental, precious, refined and unique containers the artist assigns a specific appellation for each member of the Famija: Listulo, Lastaia, Pistaia, Astulo, Pastaia, Anciulo and Pinciula."
Elena Ragusa
Offsite - the Artist.
Daniele Galliano
in collaboration with Galleria Antonella Villanova
"I learned to paint by watching the great artists who taught me to portray faces, clouds, mountains and the sea. They taught me to paint reality, but also to overcome and sublimate it, as well as to portray pain, 'psychological introspection and warmth.
Francis Bacon taught me that a disfigured face is more interesting than painting one with an intact face. After learning how to paint a perfect face, I tried to portray it by letting the painting itself become the protagonist.
I let the brush strokes collide with each other, changing the features of the subjects. I am interested in the essence of a face and the emotions it can convey. I am touched and I want my art to arouse emotions.
That should be the role of art, to arouse emotions."
Daniele Galliano
Offsite: the Craftsman
FACC (Faenza Art Ceramic Center)
Faenza Art Ceramic Center is an international center dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of art and ceramics in particular.
A leading center for educational activities, materials research and an institution that organizes cultural events around the world of ceramics.
The center is located in Faenza , a city of ancient ceramic tradition, known worldwide for the “Faenze,” finely decorated majolica that generations of local artists and artisans have been able to create and elevate to an international level.