RENATO GUTTUSO (1)

Was born in 1911 at Bagheria, a small town near Palermo in Italy.

His father was an amateur watercolourist and he discovered painting early through his father's watercolours.

He began painting mainly copies of 19th century,  sicilian landscapes and at the same time frequented the studio of the futurist painter Pippo Rizzo in Palermo.

In 1935 he did his military service in Milan where he had the chance to meet the artists associated with the group "Corrente".

After settling permanently in Rome, in 1937, his studio became the centre for artists and writers, including Alberto Moravia among others. This  group of young intellectuals with whom Guttuso was associated took an anti-fascist position and aligned themselves with the Italian Communist Party.

In 1941 he painted a large-scale composition, Crocifissione (Crucifixion) shown in the officially endorsed Premio Bergamo. This painting provoked widespread controversy to the extent that the Vatican threatened to excomunicate visitors to the exhibition. Nevertheless, despite the furore and his criticism of the regime he was accorded official recognition.

Guttuso died 1987 in Rome. He left several paintings to the Galleria d'Arte Moderna in Rome and a collection of graphics and paintings to his native town of Bagheria which are now housed in the Villa Cattolica as part of the Museo Guttuso.

The first time I had the chance to see his paintings was in 1971, a great exhibition at the Musée d'Arte Moderne in Paris. And, until now, after so many years, I continue enamorata for his work.

"tetti di Palermo"

"spiaggia"

"campieri", 1949

"caffe greco",  1976

"frauen badstube"