VENETIAN MASTERS
WITH ITALIAN AMB.
GIOVANNI AND WIFE
LILA CASTELLANETA
Opening, Luncheon and Dinner on June 14th
Villa Firenze, National Gallery of Art and Teatro Goldoni
PHOTOS BY RUSSELL HIRSHON, KYLE SAMPERTON AND PAUL SIMKIN
Italian Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta and his
wife Lila hosted the fi rst few of a series of events
to celebrate the opening of the Venetian Masters
exhibit at the National Gallery, highlighting the
works of Bellini, Giorgione and Titian, began with a
cozy reception for major donors at the residence of
Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta. The next
morning, First Lady Laura Bush visited the exhibition
accompanied by Gallery Director Rusty Powell, Lila
Castellaneta and Diana Bracco, chairman and CEO
of Bracco Group, which sponsored the exhibit. Mrs.
Castellaneta also hosted a lunch with the First
Lady as the guest of honor at Villa Firenze. Gallery
trustees hosted a special black-tie reception and
preview that evening for special guests, including
Russian Amb. Yury Ushakov and his wife Svetlana;
Justices Samuel Alito, Stephen Breyer and Ruth
Bader Ginsburg; Sens. John Warner and Patrick
Leahy; Chief of Protocol Donald Ensenat; an
Lucio Caputo, president of the Italian Wine and
Food Institute. Later that night at Teatro Goldoni
Chef Fabrizio Aielli prepared a dinner to raise
funds for Save Venice’s eff orts to preserve that city’s
unique culture.
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