Unappreciated during his lifetime, today Vincent Van Gogh is known as a Post-Impressionist pioneer whose style has influenced generations of artists. The misunderstood painter’s dramatic brushwork is instantly recognisable: his expressive landscapes, still lives and portraits are the highlights of some of the world’s greatest art collections.
A once-in-a-decade exhibition, ‘Making Van Gogh’ will run from 23 October 2019 to 16 February 2020 at Frankfurt’s Städel Museum. Years in the making, it brings together some of Van Gogh’s most important works for the first time in decades, making it a must-see for art aficionados. Showcasing over 50 of his drawings and paintings, on loan from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Prague’s National Gallery, Chicago’s Art Institute and more, this is undoubtedly the Städel’s most extensive and ambitious show to date.
Uniquely, the exhibition places Van Gogh’s oeuvre in the context of its reception in Germany. Exploring the Dutch artist’s formative influence on the German Expressionist movement, it also explains how German galleries, collectors, critics and museums helped cement his reputation. Alongside Van Gogh’s works, an additional 70 paintings from the Städel’s own Expressionist collection will be on display, to demonstrate the influence he had on masters including Schmidt-Rottluff, Modersohn-Becker and Beckmann.
As part of our Van Gogh package, guests staying at will receive tickets for this unmissable experience. Situated on the bank of the River Main, a mere ten minutes’ walk from the Städel Museum, Villa Kennedy offers the perfect base Villa Kennedy from which to explore and enjoy not only ‘Making Van Gogh’, but Frankfurt’s other museums and art galleries. The Van Gogh package includes VIP treatment, access to the Villa Spa, and bed and breakfast in a sumptuous room or suite.
To find out more or book the Van Gogh package, please email Villa Kennedy at reservations.villakennedy@roccofortehotels.com or call +49 69 717 12 1430.
Vivacious, glamorous, powerful. Few figures encapsulate the effortless grandeur of the Belle Époque quite like Donna Franca, our Sicilian muse. Famed for her petite frame, thick dark hair and an exquisite fashion sense that has endured for over a century, Franca was the epitome of an era that placed beauty and high fashion at its forefront.
The festive season brings its own kind of sparkle - a flurry of celebrations, feasts, and time with those who matter most. To make gifting simple, we’ve curated a selection of bespoke experiences to delight everyone on your list. From candlelit dinners and Italian wine tastings to tranquil spa escapes and moments devoted to yourself, each experience thoughtfully crafted to offer moments of joy.
In a time when beauty shaped every facet of life — from the curve of a staircase to the vivid bloom of a painted iris — Italy’s Stile Liberty captured the optimism of a new century. Across Europe in the late 19th century, the Belle Époque blurred the line between art and the everyday, celebrating craftsmanship, elegance, and expressive freedom. Now, a new cultural itinerary, From Mucha to Florio, traces that movement between Hotel de la Ville in Rome and Villa Igiea in Palermo, two different cities, two glorious expressions of the same artistic impulse.
