The poet's tree. The Tasso Oak on the Janiculum

The Museum of Rome in Trastevere hosts the exhibition The Poet's Tree. La The Tasso Oak on the Janiculum, curated by Roberta Perfetti and Silvia Telmon, dedicated to one of the most evocative, fascinating places, as well as rich in historical memories of the Capital. Through documents, photographs, graphics, paintings and testimonies, many of which are exhibited for the first time, visitors can rediscover the importance of this unique place and its indissoluble link with the city of Rome, immersing themselves in the history and legends linked to this monumental tree, symbol of Rome and its culture.

The Tasso Oak, which stands on the Janiculum Hill, within the Trastevere district, is in fact a tree that has inspired poets, writers and artists of every period. According to tradition, for example, Torquato Tasso found inspiration under his thick hair, composing some of his most famous verses; but also San Filippo Neri, Leopardi, Stendhal, Strutt, Rossini and many others walked along these paths, admiring the landscape and drawing inspiration from its beauty for their works.

The exhibition itinerary is divided into five sections for a total of around 100 works. The first section presents a series of historical maps that show a city that developed between the narrow streets of Trastevere and the wide landscapes of the Janiculum. The engravings and drawings in this section, created between the 18th and 19th centuries, highlight the morphology of the city in different historical eras. The second section presents watercolours, photographs and engravings that restore the timeless charm of Rome and its memories. In the third section, however, the legend is narrated according to which, sitting in the shade of the oak tree, Tasso composed some of his most intense verses, observing the city stretching out onto the horizon: here, in fact, the poet had his accommodation built. Furthermore, in the 17th century, the natural cavea of ​​the land next to the oak was transformed into a small open-air theatre, known as the The Tasso Oak Amphitheatre. Among the works on display we find wonderful views of the oak itself and representations of the surrounding places, such as the portico of the convent of Sant'Onofrio, where the poet spent his last years. Presented here are drawings by artists such as Achille Vianelli and Giuseppe Vasi in addition to the watercolours, etchings and photographs by Mary Callcott Graham and Arthur John Strutt, as well as works by contemporary artists who explore the theme of the tree from an innovative point of view.

In the penultimate section we find the engravings by Giuseppe Vasi, Luigi Rossini and Joseph Anton Koch, who between the 18th and 19th centuries brought this technique to very high levels, transforming views and landscapes into "timeless" works of art. In the fifth and the last section places some artists from the past alongside other contemporary ones.

The exhibition, promoted by Roma Capitale, Department of Culture, Capitoline Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, with the museum services of Zètema Progetto Cultura, also intends to enhance the artistic heritage of some of the main civic museums (Gallery of Modern Art, Museum of Rome, Napoleonic Museum, Pietro Canonica House-Museum and Museum of Rome in Trastevere) retracing the historical and cultural events linked to the The Tasso Oak.

Photo credits: Jacob George Strutt, La Quecia del Tasso, oil on canvas, 1843