After the exhibition ‘Le défis du corps’ at the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris for ‘Passion Olimpiques 2024’, the portrait of Francesco Giacinto and Carlo Emanuele II of Savoy returns to the museum at the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi from 9 to 17 November, on the occasion of the ATP Finals in Turin. The work is one of the rare cases documenting the importance of play in the education of young princes.
The game of pallacorda (jeu de paume in France), the ancestor of tennis, was adopted at European courts in the early stages of the training of young princes. Physical exercise is in fact considered fundamental to the building of military valour and athletic activities, including ball games that complement the traditional learning of the equestrian art and the handling of weapons. The use of the ball has a dual pedagogical value: it is physical exercise for the health of the body combined with readiness of the mind (dexterity), and it is also morally lawful recreation because it teaches strategy and respect for rules.