Le vivant et l’au-delà dans l’art de l’humanité | Il vivente e l'aldilà nell'arte dell'umanità | The Living and the Beyond in the Art of Humanity
Photographs by Luigi Spina
A World Tour of 99 Antique Miniatures
The ancient treasures collected over the past twenty years by Ludovic Donnadieu hail from a myriad of ancient cultures, famous or obscure, across all five continents. The selection maintains a balanced representation of different geographical areas, ensuring that all regions of the world and all historical or prehistoric periods are accounted for. Through this comprehensive panorama, the viewer is invited on a cultural and anthropological journey through time and space.
The showcased artworks are “miniatures”; few exceed a size of 20 centimeters. Indeed, an artwork doesn’t need to be monumental to evoke profound emotional impact and fascination! Fragility can endure, the minuscule can embody grandeur, and singular detail can convey a universal message. This selection of 99 works, forming a unique ensemble worldwide, follows three criteria – authenticity, aesthetic quality, and balance – among the represented subjects and across different forms, materials, or functions. The period covered runs from the eighth millennium BC to the early 20th century.
Presenting this collection to the public holds a dual significance: in a world threatened by uniformity, it celebrates the richness and diversity of human cultures while also highlighting the beauty and grandeur of small-scale formats and the need to protect what is fragile.
Luigi Spina, a photographer, has published several volumes with 5 Continents Editions, including The Buchner Boxes (2014), Hemba (2017), and Mythical Diary (2017), dedicated to the Farnese Collection. With the same publisher, he created the series “Hidden Treasures”: The Farnese Cup, The Alexander Mosaic, San Domenico by Niccolò dell’Arca, The Riace Bronzes (2022), the project Canova Four Tempos (2020–2024) and the large-scale photographic project Inside Pompeii (2023).
Under the aegis of the Fondation pour l’Enfance, the Donnadieu Foundation was established in 2023 by Ludovic Donnadieu, art collector, chartered accountant and founder of the firm Donnadieu & Associates, which specializes in securing securing funds entrusted to NGOs. The Foundation aims to enable young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to broaden their horizons and engage in civic activism, while also raising awareness among the general public and policymakers about the importance of culture for the world’s youth.
