LA DECORAZIONE IN MARMI POLICROMI IN SICILIA IN ETÀ MODERNA: COMPETENZE E COMPETIZIONI PROFESSIONALI

The use of polychrome marble in the religious architecture of the capitals of the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily represents one of the most strik ing manifestations of seventeenth century art in southern Italy. Despite their shared origins, which can be traced back to the second half of the sixteenth century, Palermo and Naples developed distinct approaches to this practice, differing in aesthetic intentions and the technical expertise of both designers and craftsmen. It was particularly in the artistic milieu of Palermo that, over the course of the seventeenth century, complex collaborations between designers and executors emerged. These collaborations ultimately led to open professional rivalries and strate gic attempts to monopolize the artistic market associated with this refined architectural decoration technique. This study offers a detailed anal ysis of the progressive transformation of design and execution processes, as well as the evolving professional competencies involved.