On the 26th of April 2002, the date of ARTIUM official inauguration, the 666th anniversary of Francesco Petrarca´s ascension to Mont Ventoux was celebrated. His determination to see by himself its extraordinary height was the reason why he took on such a venture. This unusual feat for the time, and the poet's subsequent meditations, have been considered crucial milestones, both for the aesthetic perception of landscape as genre, and for the development of the Renaissance historical period.

ARTIUM, with the sponsorship of AMBA (Association of friends of Álava´s Museum of Fine Arts and ARTIUM), organised an exhibition about landscape last April, with a selection of 13 art pieces belonging to ARTIUM funds. The aim of such event was to commemorate the anniversary of Petrarca´s ascension to Mont Ventoux and its coincidence with Artium´s official opening, as well as to celebrate the International museums Day. Such display was exhibited in the vestibule of the second floor.

As a complement to the exhibition, Álava´s ARTIUM has published a book entitled Petrarca and the Contemporary Landscape. It contains the original text in Latin and its translations into Euskera and Spanish, as well as two presentations by González de Durana and Maderuelo. This book gathers reproduction of the artworks on display.

The thirteen artworks chosen are the following:

ABAD GOMEZ, Francesc
La indiferencia del mundo, 1991
(Munduaren axolagabetasuna, 1991)

ARRÁZOLA OÑATE TOJAL, Txaro
Cincuenta y tres años (Oriente Medio), 2001
(Berrogeita hamairu urte (Ekialde Ertaina), 2001)

CHARRIS, (MATEO CHARRIS, Angel)
Jaulas rotas, 1999
(Kaiola hautsiak, 1999)

ELORRIAGA ORIBE, Jabier
Paisajes y ausencias, Taller, 1989
(Paisaiak eta absentziak, Lantegia, 1989)
GANGUTIA, Clara Carmentxu, 1993

IGLESIAS, Cristina
Sin título (Hojas de eucaliptos I), 1994
(Izenbururuk gabe (Eukalipto hostoak I)), 1994

LAZKANO PÉREZ, Jesús Mª
Ascensor de Begoña V, 1985
(Begoñako igogailua V, 1985)

MARCOTE, Carlos (FERNÁNDEZ DE MARCOTE, Jose Carlos)
Retrato de Santos Iñurrieta, 1988
(Santos Iñurrietaren erretratua, 1988)

MORENO, María Vallecas, 1980-85

ROYO ECHEZARRETA, Iñigo
La voz humana, 2000
(Giza ahotsa, 2000)

RUEDA, Gerardo
Paisaje oscuro ó Acuerdo, 1960
(Paisaia iluna edota Ituna, 1960)

RUIZ BALERDI, Rafael
Perspectiva en verdes, azules y violetas ó Jardín interior II, 1965-1968
(Perspektiba orlegi, urdin eta bioleta edota Barruko baratzea II, 1965-1968)

TUDELA SÁENZ DE PIPAON, Francisco Javier
Paisaje III (de aquí, desde allí), 1992
(Paisaia III (hemendik, handik), 1992)