The exhibition 'Beyond the Fringe' at Nicholas Hall Gallery emphasizes the rise of the early art market in 17th-century Italy, a period when barbers, tailors, and innkeepers began managing art flow. Featuring 30 works, it explores how foreign artists, tradesmen, and burgeoning collectors contributed to art's commercialisation, showcasing the market's democratization. Scholars Patrizia Cavazzini and Caterina Volpi argue that this unique art economy diverged from traditional hierarchies, likening Rome’s dynamic environment to that of significant artistic moments in Paris and New York.
Much of the scholarship on historical art markets to date has focused on Northern Europe, but the show outlines how 17th-century Italy developed an independent art economy.
Patrick Cavazzini and Caterina Volpi highlight how tradesmen and professionals participated in the art market, changing the landscape away from aristocratic patronage.
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