From September 13 to 14, Villa Condal in Cocentaina becomes the focal point for a celebration of Baroque art. The International Days dedicated to Baroque Art and the life of Paolo de Matteis gather scholars, curators, and enthusiasts from across Spain and Europe to explore the era’s rich visual language and its lasting influence on regional heritage.
The event is organized by the Cocentaina Town Hall, with collaborative support from the University of Alicante, the Valencia Institute for Conservation, Restoration and Research (IVCR+i), and the Virgin of the Miracle of Pious Unity related to Cocentaina. The program aims to illuminate the region’s artistic milestones while highlighting the Neapolitan master’s contributions to the Baroque canon.
Tribute to the master of Baroque art, Paolo de Matteis
The congress centers on discovering and disseminating Paolo de Matteis’s imprint on Baroque painting, underscoring the remarkable artistic legacy preserved in Cocentaina. The monastic collection at the Monastery of the Virgen del Milagro houses canvases from the late 17th century that stand as one of Spain’s most distinguished Baroque decorative ensembles. These works were created for Paolo de Matteis by Francisco de Benavides Dávila y Corella, the Count of Cocentaina and viceroy of Naples, a diplomatic gesture that bridged distant but culturally linked regions.
Throughout the conference, attendees will gain in-depth insights into De Matteis’s oeuvre and its historical context through presentations by renowned Baroque scholars. Leading voices include Pablo Gonzalez, director of the Museum of Fine Arts of San Carlos in Valencia; Gianni Citro, president of the Fondazione Meeting del Mare; and Matteo Mancini, professor at the Complutense University of Madrid. The lectures will be complemented by a curated tour of the Virgen del Milagro Monastery and a Baroque music recital, forming a two-day program rich in lectures, performances, and guided exploration.
Participants will not only hear expert analyses but also witness the tangible connections between Neapolitan painting and Spanish ceremonial spaces of the late 17th century. The event promises an immersive experience that situates Cocentaina within the broader narrative of European Baroque art, while offering a detailed, scholarly examination of the De Matteis corpus and its commissions. The monastery’s canvases, still housed in their historic setting, provide a living context for discussions about patronage, regional taste, and the transregional networks that shaped Baroque aesthetics.
In addition to scholarly sessions, the gathering invites visitors to engage with the material heritage through curated exhibits, contextualized readings, and close-looking opportunities that bridge historical analysis with present-day appreciation. The architectural backdrop of Villa Condal enhances the encounter, inviting reflection on how Baroque ideals were expressed through space, light, and ornament. The convergence of academic discourse, cultural celebration, and live performances makes these two days a comprehensive exploration of a pivotal moment in European art history, anchored in a singular Andalusian-Italianate tradition that found a vibrant home in Cocentaina.
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