Vicenza - This northern city is playing host to an unusual exhibition which displays the genius of ancient Peruvian goldsmiths alongside masterpieces from Western culture.
In total, around 75 rare and precious Peruvian artefacts are on display in Vicenza's Palazzo Chiericati.
"This is a truly fascinating exhibit and a unique chance to admire the work of some of the masters of Western art beside items produced by masters of pre-Hispanic Peruvian art," commented Antonio Aimi, a professor at Milan University and the show's curator.
"For example, at the start of the exhibition we have a cubist sculpture from the Chimu culture contrasted with a Madonna and Child by [16th-century Italian artist Paolo] Veronese".
Another pairing is a painting of St Augustine Healing The Lame, by Tintoretto, with a second Chimu piece, "beakers with extremely modern surrealist stylised decorations depicting seals with six feet", said Aimi.
The history of Peruvian gold working dates back centuries, with gold recovered from deposits as early as 1200 BC.
By 900 BC, during the Chavin Empire, gold was being panned. Its naturally pure state meant it was highly malleable, making it easy to hammer into sheets, which were then cut and decorated.
The Nazca society, which thrived in southern Peru between 500 BC and 500 AD, discovered casting, which involved melting the gold and pouring it into a ceramic mould.
The work of Peruvian goldsmiths peaked during the Chimu Empire, from 1150 to 1450 AD, during which alloying, welding, plating and filigree techniques all evolved.
The 16th-century invasion of the Spaniards, during the time of the Incas - who had developed mining techniques - marked the beginning of the end of Peru's magnificent gold production.
The Spanish invaders had no interest in maintaining the mines, and plundered existing artefacts, melting them down in order to transport them back to Europe.
South American plunder became Europe's main source of gold for many years, and relatively few ancient treasures survive today.
L'Oro del Peru'. Gioielli, simboli e leggende di civilta' scomparse (The Gold Of Peru. Jewellery, Symbols and Legends of Vanished Civilizations) runs until October 21.
