From 1 to 30 September 2026, to mark the fourth edition of Homo Faber, the Fondation Etrillard is collaborating with the Fondazione dell’Albero d’Oro to present the exhibition Metamorfosi di una collezione at the Palazzo Vendramin Grimani. This exhibition explores the dialogue between the Foundation’s historical heritage and the creativity of the new generation of craftspeople and designers from the École Boulle in Paris.
Organised jointly by the Fondazione dell’Albero d’Oro, the Fondation Etrillard and the École Boulle, this exhibition showcases two masterpieces from the Fondation Etrillard’s collection – emblematic of the refinement of 18th-century European decorative arts – alongside the twelve contemporary pieces they have inspired. Produced by students as part of the ‘Collection: Source of Inspiration’ Prize, these creations are the work of two successive promotions, each of which took one of the two historical works as its starting point. The exhibition design, conceived entirely by students at the École Boulle, takes over the ground floor of the Palazzo Vendramin Grimani and reveals how an ancient heritage remains a vibrant source of research and creation.
These two sources of inspiration are a pair of candelabra vases in lapis lazuli and gilded bronze, attributed to Jean-Étienne Forestier (1770–1780), and the tapestry Narcissus and Echo, a monumental work woven after 1714 by the Royal Gobelins Manufactory based on a cartoon by Antoine Dieu. Inspired by these references, the students’ creations build upon and reinterpret their materials, iconography and narratives, translating them into the language of contemporary design and the arts and crafts.
The exhibition is structured around four thematic sections — Resurgence, Fragmentation, Incarnation and Emanation — which invite visitors to discover different ways of transforming and reinterpreting heritage.
Resurgence revisits the customs and rituals of the past through works dedicated to conviviality, light and scent, offering a contemporary interpretation of everyday objects. Fragmentation explores the theme of metamorphosis by deconstructing images and meanings, drawing on the myth of Narcissus and Echo, to examine identity and perception in the digital age. Incarnation creates a dialogue between materials, nature and artisanal craftsmanship, lending a living, dynamic presence to historical works. Finally, Emanation shows how works from the past continue to generate new narratives, in which water becomes the common thread linking myths, emotions and memories.
Among the works on display, two creations that have won the ‘Collection: Source of Inspiration’ prize hold a special place. L’écho du feuillage by Karl Ringelstein, the prize’s first winner, draws inspiration from the foliage in the tapestry Narcissus and Echo. This marquetry panel, a true barometer of connected art, comes to life to reflect the current weather conditions: its foliage, animated by a restrained, cyclical rhythm, evokes the nymph Echo, condemned to repeat the last words she hears. Comprising 2,700 unique pieces and the result of over 500 hours’ work, this piece brilliantly combines aesthetic reinterpretation with functionality. En Deux Temps by Agathe Quissac, the 2024–2026 prize-winner, engages in a dialogue with the candelabra vases of the Fondation Etrillard: this kinetic wall panel juxtaposes 18th-century heritage with contemporary creation through the themes of duality and movement.
The exhibition also marks the highlight of the ‘Collection: A Source of Inspiration’ programme, launched in 2022 by the Fondation Etrillard in collaboration with the École Boulle. This programme invites students to draw inspiration from the works in the Foundation’s collection to devise contemporary creations that breathe new life into their meaning and anchor them in the present.
Through Metamorfosi di una collezione, the Fondation Etrillard reaffirms its commitment to encouraging dialogue between heritage, education and contemporary creation, and demonstrates how historical collections can continue to inspire knowledge, experimentation and new forms of artistic expression.
📍 Palazzo Vendramin Grimani, Venice
🗓 1–30 September 2026
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