The Cuban ambassador to the Vatican, René Mujica, in presenting the exhibition in the Vasari Hall of the historic palace, thanked the Dicastery (Ministry) for Culture and Education, in particular its prefect, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, for co-sponsoring it.

At the inauguration, Mujica highlighted the relevance of this initiative, which presents in the Holy See and Italy the works of an important painter, draughtsman, illustrator, engraver, and poet, awarded in January this year with the National Prize for Fine Arts of Cuba 2023. The exhibition of the works of Zaida del Río, in charge of the Bettini & Co Gallery, is presented as an extension of the Cuban Culture Day, which takes place annually on the island from October 10 to 20, the ambassador said.

The curator Luciano Caprile expressed in a review that this painter renews with her art “an empathetic relationship between the individual and nature, in harmony with everything that belongs to us and conquers us with the mind and heart” and with her works she transfers to the canvas “the immediate appearance of an idea or the emotion of the moment”.

For his part, the curator Eriberto Bettini said that Zaida del Río is “a complete artist, who transmits a lot, worthy representative of Cuban art in the world.”

The event was also attended by the Cuban ambassador to Italy, Mirta Granda, as well as Father Nuno da Silva, director of La Civiltá Cattolica and Naker Addad, Imam of the Great Mosque of Rome, among other personalities.

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