This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Ardegno Soffici (1879-1964), painter, writer and poet; one of the great names from the Italian twentieth century. The Soffici Museum, along with the Cultural Department of Poggio a Caiano, are marking this important event with the exhibition: Ardegno Soffici. Days of Landscape.
For the first time, 50 of Soffici’s landscapes will be displayed side by side, painted between 1903 and the 60s. Alongside these works, another 15 landscapes from different Italian artists will be showcased: Giovanni Fattori, Felice Carena, Arturo Tosi, Lorenzo Viani, Achilles League, Philip de Pisis, Raffaele De Grada, Carlo Carra, Virgilio Guidi, Giorgio Morandi, Brass Rosai, Pius Semeghini Umberto Lilloni, Giorgio de Chirico, Mario Sironi. Soffici had close personal ties with these artists and often shared a similar style.
As well as Soffici’s works of art, first edition copies of all of his books will be on display.
The Tuscan town of Poggio a Caiano, where the artist spent most of his life, allowed him to gain great experience in painting Tuscan landscapes. ‘There is nature and there is the artist’s spirit: from their union, profound works of art are born…’ (Soffici, 1932). After serving in the First World War, Soffici’s reverence for Tuscan landscapes was renewed and thereafter dominated his work.
The exhibit groups the paintings chronologically, allowing the public to trace Soffici’s style as it changed throughout the years. Running until 27 July, 2014, there is plenty of time to immerse yourself in the rolling Tuscan hills and calm, muted colours of Soffici’s landscapes. See www.museoardengosoffici.it for more information.
