The Splendor of Florence returned to the City of Providence this past November, celebrating its 25th anniversary and highlighting the importance of climate change through a weeklong festival that transformed downtown Providence. Created in 1998 by Providence native Joyce Acciaioli Rudge, who has a deep passion for Florence's art, fashion, and history, this year's theme was Sott' Aqua: A Tale of Two Cities Underwater. From November 9-17, attendees enjoyed a vibrant array of programming, including a photo exhibit, live music, and discussions focused on the climate crisis, emphasizing both the beauty and challenges the two cities face due to environmental changes.
This friendship pack was made because these two cities have something in common: a history of devastating floods. Providence was annihilated by Hurricane Carol in 1954, while Florence experienced a massive flood on the Arno River, destroying valuable artifacts in 1966. Both events caused substantial damage, a reminder that even cities separated by thousands of miles can face similar tragedies. Rudge noted, "The rain is bringing in floods all over the city in places like the east side and in Warwick and Cranston, places that were never flooded before. So, there's a definite problem, and we must face it." At Splendor of Florence, Rudge and her team brought back the flood and hurricane with a vibrant and explosive photo exhibit.
At the Sott' Aqua photo exhibit held at The Pavilion at Grace Church, scaffolding was set up all over the side of the pavilion. There were large format prints from the Providence Journal and the late Life Magazine photographer David Lees. As guests arrived, they were visited with dramatic and thought-provoking photos of each city underwater. The amount of work that went into setting this exhibit up was outstanding.
Just down the road, at the RISD Museum auditorium, Elizabeth Wicks gave an in-depth presentation on art conservatory. This presentation amazed viewers with the modern technology used to reveal how Artemisia Gentileschi, the most celebrated female painter of the 17th century, created the first frontal female nude painting. Over the years, the Italian Baroque artist Volterrano censored the painting with drapery. Elizabeth's presentation unveiled what the painting would have looked like without the censorship, showcasing the incredible capabilities of X-ray technology.
Florence's Mayor Funaro sent a letter of congratulations to Mayor Smiley, in which she invited Rudge and her team to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the flood in Florence in 2026. Rudge and Ruth have begun discussing themes and activities, and both of them will be in Florence in the next few months to meet with their Florentine partners. To learn more about the festival and partnership, visit the Splendor of Florence website.
