The Company Collections curated by ARTantide Gallery
Ristorante Ponte Pietra | Magic Atmosfere
Just a few steps from the famous bridge, Ristorante Ponte Pietra welcomes its guests into an extraordinarily romantic atmosphere, rich in period decorations and a nostalgic charm that engages in an intimate dialogue with the Veronese landscape. Crossing the threshold of this historic residence means embarking on a refined journey where fine dining meets a contemporary art collection conceived as a natural extension of its hospitality philosophy—a guided sensory path where visual beauty merges with the value of memory and stylistic research.
Stepping into the lower room, the eye is immediately captured by works from the Osmosi series by Piero Mafessoli, known artistically as Malipiero. In pieces such as Brigitte Bardot, La Sfinge and Claudia Cardinale, Man Ray, the artist decomposes famous pop culture faces and skillfully weaves them together with historical and enigmatic icons through a refined vertical-strip collage technique. In the former work, the actress's seduction merges with the ancient figure of the Sphinx, while in the latter, Claudia Cardinale's bewitching gaze meets the sinuous curves of Man Ray's Le Violon d'Ingres, creating an elegant and suspended visual poetry. Set within the room's intimate space, these canvases do not remain mere decorative elements; instead, they establish a profound dialogue with the restaurant's historic walls. The viewer's eye is invited to reassemble the figures in a dynamic interplay that perfectly mirrors the culinary approach of Ponte Pietra—taking the great classics of Veronese tradition and reinterpreting them with a modern, harmonious, and light touch.
Continuing along this journey of art and taste, the eye is drawn to the sculpture Untitled by Nouveau Réalisme master Arman. In this piece, a polished bronze violin is broken and deconstructed, losing its original function while gaining a new, eternal, and elegant three-dimensional presence. This metamorphosis of material flows into a seamless dialogue with the work of the kitchen brigade, where local raw ingredients are studied, decomposed, and reassembled through culinary innovation to give life to creations that elevate the very essence of each element.
From Arman’s three-dimensional form, the visual journey rediscovering graphic grace with Ernesto Treccani’s copper etching and watercolor titled Omaggio a Andersen - La Sirenetta. Dating back to 1972, the work depicts a stylized female figure emerging fluidly from shades of water, where the essentiality of the line meets delicate color tones. Treccani’s poetic style, rooted in authenticity and respect for the paper medium, reflects the restaurant's commitment to selecting genuine, seasonal ingredients treated with the same respect and tailored precision.
Finally, the tour concludes in front of Raymond Hains's American Express, whose tears and material stratifications celebrate the memory and identity of the local region. Hains gathers traces of human passage to restore dignity to the ordinary, much like Ristorante Ponte Pietra acts as a custodian of Verona's historical and cultural memory, turning every dish and every detail of the room into a living tribute to the city.
The art collection at Ristorante Ponte Pietra represents the beating heart of the restaurant—a visual manifesto guiding the constant pursuit of perfection and offering every guest an experience of excellence where art, history, and gastronomy become one.
