Italian art of the 20th century

FELICE CASORATI Born at Novara 1886; lives in Turin. One of the most eminent repre- sentatives of Italian Art, he is considered an authoritative exponent of the figurative trends which, opposed to "deformation" principles, advocates a sound and rigorous formal composition, which is charac- terised by a typical colour expression. His paintings are to be seen in the most important Italian and foreign galleries. H e is President of the National Committee of Plastic Arts at U.N.E.S.C.O. 1 5 GIRLS ON THE BEACH The National Gallery o f Modern Art, Rome 1 6 ECLIPSES OF THE MOON Collection Dr. Franco Prina, Turin FILIPPO DE PISIS Born at Ferrara 1896; lives in Milan. Painter, art critic, poet. He spent many years in Paris and, from his contacts there with "neo- impressionism," he developed an individual and unmistakable pictorial formula that is in the Italian colour tradition and unites a singular elegance to a remarkable expressive efficiency. His production is con- sidered today among the foremost in Italy and abroad 17 VASE WITH FLOWERS National Gallery o f Modern Art, Rome 1 8 LANDSCAPE National Gallery o f Modern Art, Rome ACHILLE FUNI Born at Ferrara 1890; lives in Milan. After having participated for a short time in the futurist experiment ( 1 9 1 5 ) , he took u p the banner of the "Novecento" trend ( 1 9 2 4 ) and established his reputation in this movement with vigorous paintings and in particular monumental frescoes. He is considered one of the masters of Italian contemporary painting 1 9 FATHER (1922) Collection Bergamini, Milan 2 0 FIGURE OF YOUNG GIRL (1926) Collection Bergamini, Milan OTTONE ROSAI Born in Florence 1895; lives in that city. After having become acquainted with the futurist movement in his early youth, he subse- quently made his name with a personal form of art, which formally concentrated on the essentials, and came close to folk art. He is the best known Tuscan painter and his canvases are to be found in the principal Italian and foreign museums 2 1 BORGO ALLEGRI (1948) Collection Enrico Vallecchi, Florence 2 2 TRIUMPH OF THE STREET (1952) Collection Enrico Vallecchi, Florence 2 3 AFTER THE DAY'S WORK (1955) Collection Enrico Vallecchi, Florence MARIO SIRONI ( F o r biographical note see page 12) 2 4 COMPOSITION (1946) Collection Bergamini, Milan 2 5 COMPOS I T ION (1947) Collection Bergamini, Milan ARTURO TOR Born at Busto Arsizio (Lombardy) 1871; died in January, 1956, in Milan. H e was the chief landscape artist of contemporary Italian painting. Although inspired by impressionist and post-impressionist ideals, he was faithful to the Lombardy tradition and created a purely personal style. He was one of the founders of the "Novecento" tendency. His work is to be found in the principal art galleries 2 6 AUTUMN COUNTRYSIDE National Gallery o f Modern Art, Rome 2 7 VASE WITH FLOWERS National Gallery o f Modern Art, Rome ART URO MARTINI Born at Treviso 1889; died at Milan 1947. *He is considered one of the chief contemporary sculptors and most representative of the "Nove- cento" group ( 1 9 2 6 ) . Inspired to begin with by the Italian "Primitives," he subsequently made his name with work distinguished by a notable plastic sense and monumental character. H e was awarded many prizes and gained much recognition for his sculpture: his work greatly influenced artists of subsequent generations. His sculptures are to be found in many public offices, galleries and museums 28 29 30 THESEUS, BRONZE Collection Fosco Morandi, Florence S. GERVASIO AND S. PROTARIO, BRONZE Collection F. Schettini, Milan PORTRAIT Collection Fosco Morandi, Florence AFRO (AFRO BASALDELLA) Born at Udine 1912; lives in Rome. H e belonged to the "Figurative" group of the "New Ar t Front" and subsequently turned towards the "Non-figurative" trend in 1948. His work is to be seen in some of the principal North and South American Museums. H e also has to his credit various murals (mosaics and frescoes) 31 FIGURE IN SPACE Collection V.D., Rome [ 1 4 ] [15]