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From 13 February 2026, the Francesco Podesti Civic Art Gallery in Ancona will host two exceptionally important loans that directly compare two absolute protagonists of the Italian Renaissance: the Annunciation by Titian and the Portrait of the Crossbowman Battista di Rocca Contrada by Lorenzo Lotto.
The initiative is part of a broader exhibition programme that sees the Pinacoteca take centre stage with several exhibitions running simultaneously.
The Annunciation, from the Malchiostro Chapel of the Cathedral of St Peter the Apostle in Treviso, represents one of the most innovative moments in Titian's work around 1520, with a dynamic composition and a new centrality of the figure of the Virgin. The work is linked to the presence of the famous Pala Gozzi, kept in the Pinacoteca, and allows us to explore Titian's artistic journey in greater depth. The exhibition complements the museum's permanent collections and offers a direct comparison between great Venetian painting and the local artistic heritage. It is also an opportunity to rediscover Ancona through one of its most representative cultural venues, among already well-known works and exceptional exhibits.
Next to it, the painting by Lotto, from the Capitoline Museums, offers a different but complementary view of the Renaissance. The Portrait of the crossbowman Battista di Rocca Contrada, painted around the middle of the 16th century, is among the most significant of the artist's late period and is distinguished by its strong psychological intensity: the protagonist is captured in a suspended moment, far from celebratory poses, while the crossbow becomes a symbol of a civil function linked to discipline and responsibility.
The focus on Lorenzo Lotto can be visited until 7 June 2026, while the exhibition on Titian's work continues until 26 September 2026.
The initiative reinforces the role of the Pinacoteca as a place for research and the promotion of heritage, and offers visitors a dynamic experience among masterpieces from the history of art and new ways of interpreting the museum.
For more details, please visit the official website.
