Sixteen pieces from Sandro Botticelli, the latest international exhibit to have its American debut at the Muscarelle Museum at the College of William and Mary, opens Saturday.
Botticelli was a contemporary of Michelangelo as well as Leonardo da Vinci, whose work was the focus of another Muscarelle exhibit in 2015. The works featured in “Botticelli and the Search for the Divine: Florentine Painting between the Medici and the Bonfires of the Vanities” comes from six Italian cities.
Part of the exhibit is a painting being shown in the United States for the first time, “Venus” which features a nude figure against a dark, plain background. It replicates Botticelli’s iconic “Birth of Venus” and is one of only two known Venuses by Botticelli.
After the exhibit finishes at the Muscarelle on April 6, it will travel north to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston before heading back across the Atlantic Ocean.
To get in the Italian mood for the exhibit’s public debut Saturday, make a dinner reservation at one of the area’s fine Italian restaurants or check out the Williamsburg Opera’s performance Thursday night.
Italian Food
Williamsburg boasts a number of options for authentic Italian cuisine — Sal’s by Victor on Richmond Road, Antonio’s Ristorante Italiano on Merrimac Trail and Giuseppes on Old Towne Road are all local favorites. But there’s also a new place in town: Tuscany Italian Ristorante on Longhill Road.
The restaurant opened in James City County in October, and it’s the third in the area for co-owner Aldo Bertuglia. He said Longhill Road was the perfect choice because it’s in the middle of his Newport News and New Kent offerings.
Tuscany offers the Italian classics like lasagna and fettuccine alfredo, but Bertuglia, a 40-year veteran of the restaurant business, said a seafood pasta is by far their most popular dish.
“Our most popular is capellini alla buccaniera with seafood — it has shrimp, clams and mussels tossed in,” Bertuglia said. “It’s authentic, a longtime recipe.”
Co-owner Kate Huff said the restaurant prides itself on its ingredients. She said all of their pasta is imported from Italy, they use 100 percent olive oil and only cook with sea salt. All sauces are made in the dish as it’s prepared, which means the wait time may be a bit longer, but it’s a more authentic experience.
Situated at 4854 Longhill Road, the restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday, and Bertuglia recommends reservations for a weekend slot. Tuscany offers take out and catering as well.
For a family restaurant closer to the heart of Williamsburg, Sal’s by Victor sits on Richmond Road. It offers a large menu of pizza and pasta options. Don’t forget local favorites Antonio’s Ristorante Italiano on Merrimac Trail or Giuseppes on Old Towne Road.
Italian Opera
The Italian art scene isn’t limited to paintings and sculptures, but includes a wide array of music, including opera.
Opera in Williamsburg is presenting a one-night event, ”An Evening of Passion and Love” as a lead into Valentine’s Day. Falling on the Thursday before the Botticelli opening and featuring Italian composers, the opera is a perfect mood setter before delighting in the some of the country’s historic paintings.
The evening includes four performers for three hours Thursday evening and guests can indulge themselves with the dessert buffet or cash bar. Tickets cost $25 and are going fast, said Williamsburg Art Gallery director Gulay Berryman.
Beginning at 6 p.m., guests can hear soprano Maria Natale, mezzo soprano Fiorella Velez, baritone Eric Lindsey and pianist Abdiel Vasquez sing the tunes from Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi as well as French and German composers.
Berryman said they moved the event closer to Valentine’s Day this year, and the table settings will reflect the romantic theme.
“Everyone is interested in passion and love and it will be seated, we will dim the lights and there will be candles and roses,” Berryman said. “I think people are looking for this kind of entertainment and especially opera.”
The concert is at the Williamsburg Art Gallery, situated at 440 Duke of Gloucester St.
For more information, visit bit.ly/2lmsmEs or call the art gallery at (757) 565-9680.
Williams can be reached by phone at 757-345-2341.
Want to see Botticelli?
Open from Feb. 11 through April 5 at the Muscarelle Museum of Art
Tickets are $15 for the exhibition and admission is free to members, William and Mary students, faculty and staff, and children under 12.
For more information, call 757-221-2700 or visit muscarelle.org.
