Houses on the Rio

The pictorial sensibility of Somensari was well suited to capture the more picturesque side of Mantua which, at the beginning of the 20th century, just as today, can be seen in its relationship with the waters that reflect its features in various ways. Here, in particular, the fluid and free brushstroke of the young artist portrays the Rio, the artificial water canal that cuts through the town for compensation between the levels of the Lower and Upper lakes. The beautiful blue seems to gather the buildings that are mirrored and vanish, while everyday life surrounding the buildings seems to withdraw into a state of rest accentuated by the reddish radiance of the sun. A modern vision of a popular and ancient landscape.