luciano ventrone il velo di maya

LUCIANO VENTRONE IL VELO DI MAYA
LUCIANO VENTRONE IL VELO DI MAYA
ALBEMARLE
The Never-ending Evolution of Art
A Contemporary Master
‘I believe that the paintings exhibited today are only a phase, an
initial phase, in Ventrone’s artistic journey.’ This is what Federico
Zeri wrote in 1986. Twenty-four years on, looking at Ventrone’s new
collection of works, one cannot but agree with the words of the
distinguished critic and art historian that first ‘discovered’ the talent
of the Roman artist.
The first association that these paintings provoke is with the thought
of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. An evolution of
the Platonic Myth of the Cave, permeated by metaphysical and
epistemological concepts derived from Hindu philosophy and religion,
his Veil of Maya correctly describes the philosophical potential that
lies in Ventrone’s works. Maya – goddess of illusion – embodies
reality, as it is perceived through one’s senses, which clouds with
her veil the eyes of humankind preventing authentic knowledge. In
Schopenhauer’s aesthetics, art is meant to ‘express’ and ‘represent’
the Platonic Ideas. Through art one can temporarily contemplate the
essence of things and this is precisely the process that takes place
in front of a still life, nude or a seascape of Luciano Ventrone. As
the art-critic and author Edward Lucie-Smith wrote: ‘What we see
in a Ventrone painting is not ‘real’ because it is not what we would
see were we to look with the naked eye – we see more. Ventrone
shows us things more fully and more clearly than they appear to us
in reality; everything is in focus, everything can be scrutinised.’
The extraordinary mastery of the technical means makes of Ventrone
a leader of a new figurative tradition. In his essay, published in 1989,
Federico Zeri observed that ‘this is the second experience in European
history of a return to figurative painting following a period of abstract,
intellectual, anti-naturalist, arid cerebral formulae,’ referring to the
naturalistic shift that characterised European art towards the end of
the 16th century, with both the birth of still life and the development
of a new aesthetic in art and architecture that stemmed from the
Counter-Reformation, as exemplified by the writings of Gabriele
Paleotti (1522-1597) or Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584). As a matter of
fact every key moment in art history is marked by a declared return
to naturalistic figuration. It happened with the artistic revolution of the
13th/14th century (i.e. the surviving frescoes and mosaics of Pietro
Cavallini both in Rome and Naples, and the most famous fresco
cycles by Giotto), it took place in the late 16th century and again in
the mid-19th century with Gustave Courbet’s Realism. It is happening
now with Luciano Ventrone. He is not the only representative of the
genre commonly known as Hyperrealism, but he is by far the most
accomplished author. His creations can be compared, for intellectual
and technical significance, to the work of Masaccio, author of the
‘Trinitá’ in Santa Maria Novella, Florence (c. 1427). Ventrone, as the
Florentine master before him, has conceived a new way to observe
and think nature and, above all, has developed innovative technical
and stylistic means to mark yet another fundamental step in the
never-ending evolution of art.
Alessandro Lorenzetti
Art Market Correspondent for Il Sole 24 Ore
Art Market Analyst at Art Tactic Ltd.
1 Effimero
oil on linen
160 x 140 cm (63 x 55 in)
2 Linguaggio Segreto
oil on linen
80 x 80 cm (31 x 31 in)
3 Breve Palpito
oil on linen
70 x 70 cm (28 x 28 in)
4 Il Vento all’Improvviso 80 x 100 cm (31 x 39 in)
5 Nuovo Segreto oil on linen 35 x 90 cm (14 x 35 in)
6 Colpo di Fulmine
oil on linen
50 x 50 cm (20 x 20 in)
7 Tendere a...
oil on linen
50 x 50 cm (20 x 20 in)
8 Eclisse Blu
oil on linen
90 x 60 cm (35 x 24 in)
9 Elena
oil on linen
90 x 60 cm (35 x 24 in)
10 Euforia oil on linen 60 x 70 cm (24 x 28 in)
11 Storia Barocca oil on linen 60 x 70 cm (24 x 28 in)
12 Sussurri oil on linen 60 x 90 cm (24 x 35 in)
13 Falò oil on linen 60 x 90 cm (24 x 35 in)
14 Arabesco oil on linen 50 x 60 cm (20 x 24 in)
15 Lucia oil on linen 55 x 150 cm (22 x 59 in)
16 Momento Magico oil on linen 60 x 70 cm (24 x 28 in)
17 Canto della Creazione oil on linen 60 x 70 cm (24 x 28 in)
18 Capricci
oil on linen
60 x 60 cm (24 x 24 in)
19 Il Trio
oil on linen
60 x 60 cm (24 x 24 in)
20 Pausa oil on linen 60 x 90 cm (24 x 35 in)
21 Concerto Notturno oil on linen 50 x 70 cm (20 x 28 in)
Luciano Ventrone was born in Rome in 1942. He is regarded by the Italian art establishment,
museums, curators and critics as one of the leading exponents of his genre. He lives and
works in Rome and Collelongo (L’Aquila), Italy.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2010
2009
2008
2006
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1992
1993 1991
1990
Palazzo del Broletto, Como
Luciano Ventrone, Marble Palace – Ludwig Museum in the Russian Museum, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
L’Inverosimile Verosimiglianza, curated by Beatrice Buscaroli, Fondazione Bandera, Busto Arsizio
Studio Forni, Milano
Simposio, Albemarle Gallery, London
Luciano Ventrone e l’eterno presente, Galleria Forni, Bologna
Luciano Ventrone. Le verità dipinte, Palazzo Luigi Einaudi, Chivasso – Turin
Bernarducci & Meisel Gallery, New York
Luciano Ventrone, Albemarle Gallery, London
Luciano Ventrone and the Eternal Present, curated by E. Lucie-Smith, Albemarle Gallery, London
Luciano Ventrone, Correggio – Reggio Emilia
Studio Forni, Milan
Xenia. Ossia Il gioco degli occhi, Studio Forni, Milan
Studio Forni, Milan
Portraits of Nicola Mancino and Marcello Pera, Presidents of the Senate of the Italian Republic, Rome
Two commissioned paintings for the bouvette of the Senate of the Italian Republic, Rome
Galleria Il Tempietto, Brindisi
Studio Forni, Milan
Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona
Galleria Forni, Bologna
International Art Fair, Shanghai
Museo Civico, Chiusa - Bolzano
Galleria Marieschi, Monza
Galleria Forni, Bologna
E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen
Galleria L’Incontro, Ancona
Galleria Bergamini, Milan
E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen
Galleria dello Scudo, Verona
Galleria Il Tempietto, Brindisi
Galleria Forni, Bologna
Galleria Forni Tendenze, Bologna
Galleria Forni, Tokyo
Galleria Apollodoro, Rome
1989
1986
1985
1982 1981
1979
1978
1977 1976
1975
1974
1972
1971
1970
1969
1966 1964
1963 Galleria Wildenstein, London
Galleria Il Gabbiano, Rome
Galleria Consigli Arte, Parma
Galleria Davico, Turin
Hall Galleries Inc., Dallas
Elac, Lyon
Palazzo Cenci, Rome
Galleria “Bottega dell’arte San Marco”, Porto Santo Stefano
Centro Cultural Bella Vista Porlamar, Isla de Margarita (Venezuela)
M. J. C. Maison pour tous, Chambery
Galleria L’oeil écouter, Lyon
Galleria Kohm, Saint-Etienne
Galleria Arti Visive, Rome
Palazzo Kursaal, Pallanza – Verbania
M.J.C.Maison pour Tous, Annemasse
M.J.C. Maison pour Tous, Rumilly
Maison des Arts et Loisirs, Thonon-Les-Bains
Galleria La Parete, Naples
Affresco, Aula della Corte d’Assise del Palazzo di Giustizia, Cassino
Galleria Isola Verde, Casalpalocco – Rome
Galleria L’Aventiniana, Rome
Galleria 818, Pescara
Galleria Interni, L’Aquila
Galleria Arti Visive, Rome
Sala comunale di Esposizione, Aosta
Galleria Il Buchetto, Rome
Facoltà di Architettura, Rome
Galleria Il Ferro di Cavallo, Rome
Galleria Il Fanale, Rome
2007
2006
2005
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010
2009
2008
Art Chicago, Chicago
Contemporary Realism, Albemarle Gallery London
Arte Fiera, Bologna
Donne di Roma, Auditorium Musica per Roma, Rome
Figure, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, New York
Contemplazioni, Castello Sismondo, Rimini
Art London, London
Natura morta, Il Chiostro, Saronno
Scope, New York
Arte Fiera, Bologna
Face to Face, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, New York
Colori di Roma, Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome
Oltre la realtà, Galleria Chiari, Rome
Figurae, Villa Genoese Zerbi di Reggio Calabria
2004
2003
Oltre la realtà, Galleria 44, Turin
Spazio Forni, Ragusa
Art London, Albemarle Gallery, London
Arte Fiera, Bologna
MiArt, Milan
Visioni e illusioni, Castello Cinquecentesco, L’Aquila
Summer Show, Albemarle Gallery, London
LVII Premio Michetti, Francavilla al Mare – Chieti
Arte Italiana 1968-2007. Pittura, curated by V. Sgarbi, Palazzo Reale, Milan
Nuovi realismi, PAC, Milan
Scope, New York
L’alibi dell’oggetto. Morandi e gli sviluppi della natura morta in Italia, curated by M. Pasquali, Fondazione Ragghianti, Lucca
Arte Fiera, Abu Dhabi
Art London, Albemarle Gallery, London
Winter Show, Albemarle Gallery, London
Arte Fiera, Bologna
Scope, New York
L’Italia della Repubblica, Complesso Monumentale del Vittoriano, Rome
Antologia della figurazione contemporanea. Italia: le ultime generazioni 1, curated by G. Algranti, Galleria Figurae, Milan
Sui Generi. Figure in posa, Centro di Promozione Culturale “Le Muse”, Andria
Figurae, Galleria Factory, Modena
Flowers, Palazzo Ducale, Pavullo nel Frignano
Primer concurso de pintura figurativa, Barcelona
10th Anniversary Show, Albemarle Gallery, London
Terra, Galleria Marieschi, Milan
Il ritratto interiore. Da Lotto a Pirandello, curated by V. Sgarbi, Museo archeologico, Aosta
L’inquietudine del volto. Da Lotto a Freud, da Tiziano a De Chirico, curated by V. Sgarbi, Lodi
Sui Generi. Paesaggi in posa, Centro di Promozione Culturale “Le Muse”, Andria
Arte Fiera, Bologna
Sui Generi. Nature in posa, Centro di Promozione Culturale “Le Muse”, Andria
MiArt, Milan
Nudo, Galleria Forni, Bologna
St’Art, Strasbourg
ArtParis, Paris
Fortino Napoleonico, Ancona
La ricerca dell’Identità. Da Tiziano a de Chirico, curated by V. Sgarbi, Polo Culturale Sant’Agostino, Ascoli Piceno
Arte Fiera, Bologna
MiArt, Milan
St’Art, Strasbourg
ArtParis, Paris
Art Miami, Miami
2002 2001
1999
1997
1996
1995
1993
1992
1991
1990
1987
“Italian Still Life Painting from the Silvano Lodi Collection”, Yamagata Museum of Art, Yamagata
Arte Fiera, Bologna
MiArt, Milan
Mimesis et inventio. La natura morta nella pittura europea contemporanea, curated by Gerd Lindner, Panorama Museum, Bad Frankenhausen
20x20, Galleria Ibiscus, Ragusa
Arte Fiera, Bologna
MiArt, Milan
Travelling exhibition: “Italian Still Life Painting from the Silvano Lodi Collection”, Seiji Togo Memorial Yasuda Kasai Museum of Art, Shinjuku; Niigata City Art Museum, Niigata; Hakodate Museum of Art, Hokkaido; Toyama Shimin Plaza Art Gallery, Toyama; Ashikaga Museum of Art, Ashikaga
Art Miami, Miami
Arte Fiera, Bologna
MiArt, Milan
XIII Quadriennale, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome
Immagine d’impegno-Impegno d’immagine, Galleria Civica “Ex-mattatoio”, Rome
Da Boccioni a Bacon alla contemporaneità, Galleria Forni, Bologna
Continuità dell’immagine, Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona
Ancora calda è l’erba sui miei prati, Studio Forni, Milan
Arte Fiera, Bologna
MiArt, Milan
Continuità del talento, Galleria Forni Tendenze, Bologna
Arte Expo, Bari
Art Chicago, Chicago
Artissima, Turin
W il cinema, Galleria Il Gabbiano, Rome
I grandi Mercanti: Tiziano Forni, curated by C. Malberti, Galleria Marieschi, Monza
Arte Fiera, Bologna
Arte Expo, Bari
Artissima, Turin
Frutti del pennello: quattrocento anni di natura morta italiana dalla collezione Silvano Lodi, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Arte Fiera, Bologna
Ma è calda l’erba sui miei prati, Galleria Forni Tendenze, Bologna
Arte Fiera, Bologna
Expo C.T., Milan
Sogo Esposizione d’arte italiana, Tokyo
Arte Europea in Giappone, Museum Laforet, Tokyo
Arte segreta, curated by V. Sgarbi, Galleria Forni, Bologna
International Art Exposition, Chicago
Parola Italia, Galleria Apollodoro, Rome
La natura morta nell’arte italiana del ‘900, curated by V. Sgarbi, Castello Estense, Mesola
FIAC, Paris
1986
1985
1984 1983
1977
1976
1974
1966
1965
1964
Artexpo, Galleria Forni, New York
FIAC, Paris
Lo studiolo di Francesco I de’ Medici e il suo doppio, Galleria Apollodoro, Rome
International Art Fair, London
Expo Arte, Bologna
Expo Arte C.T., Milan
FIAC, Paris
I Riflessivi, Narciso Arte, Fabriano
Expo Arte, Bari
Italian Trade Centre, London
M. J. C. Maison Pour Tous, Rumilly
M. J. C. Maison Pour Tous, Annemasse
Aspetti dell’arte contemporanea in Italia, Castello Sammarzano, Regello, Florence
Premio Avezzano, Avezzano
V Rassegna di Arti Figurative di Roma e del Lazio, Rome
I Mostra di Arte Sacra, Il Ferro di Cavallo, Rome
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