Bettino Craxi and Tunisia

Lithographs

Tunisiaca D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1994 (1994/1994) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Introduction

While he was exiled, Bettino Craxi engaged himself in the making of several artistic works, many of them dedicated to Tunisia, the land that had protected and hosted him.Through the images Bettino Craxi describes this country and its people. 

Tunisiaca D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1994 (1994/1994) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Tunisiaca D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére  1994

Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia.Tunisiaca D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére  1994 is a serie of  fotholithos took by original plates made by A. Lumiere and sons. Bettino Craxi dedicated them to Tunisia in honour of the centenary of Lumiere brothers.

Tunisiaca D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1994 (1994/1994) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

"I’m familiar withTunisia, its society, its history, its people and here where I am now, I can count on the friendship and the affection of many friends with whom I shared experiences and also common struggles. I can count on the affection of many young people that I have seen growing up and many others who have supported me in these years and have helped me getting through hard times and have always generously supported me". Bettino Craxi

Tunisiaca D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1994 (1994/1994) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Cafè des Nattes, Sibi Bou Said.

Tunisiaca D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1994 (1994/1994) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Zitouna Mosque in Tunis.

Tunisiaca D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1994 (1994/1994) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

A carovan of camels.

Tunisiaca II D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Tunisiaca II D'Apres Auguste Lumiére, 1996.

Tunisiaca II is the second collection of the series. These are lithographs reproducing some landscapes and scenes of Tunisia’s daily life.

Tunisiaca II D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Tunisiaca II D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Tunisiaca II D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Tunisiaca II D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

"My exile is neither golden nor silver.I live in truth as I have always lived. I live in a country that I've been attending for over thirty years." Bettino Craxi

Tunisiaca III D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Tunisiaca III D'Apres Auguste Lumiére, 1997

“I am in contact with local sports, cultural, social associations, and kindly informed about their activities. I also have contacts with a publishing company and a printing press in Tunis that have edited three lithographic series I made, two in the Lumière brothers Centenary, and one later…”. Bettino Craxi

Tunisiaca III D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Tunisiaca III D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

"In these conditions, if on the one hand I thank God that I am still alive, on the other hand, I continue to live as I can, defending my freedom and my life, because I think it’s all the same according to a way of thinking settled and crystal clear in my mind". Bettino Craxi

Tunisiaca III D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Tunisiaca III D'Arpes Auguste Lumiére, 1996 (1996/1996) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Coliseum (1997/1997) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Coliseum

The lithographs  show Bettino Craxi at the Roman amphitheater of the Tunisian city El Djem. The monument is very similar, by structure and size to the Amphitheater Flavio, the Colosseum of Rome.

Coliseum, Bettino Craxi, 1997/1997, From the collection of: Bettino Craxi Foundation
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"The Amphitheater is a huge monument that stands out in its greatness on the many small buildings on a floor surrounding it. Its facade is majestic and in every detail it clearly stands out its classic simplicity. It stands on three floors and its golden color immediately recalls the Colosseum in Rome."
Bettino Craxi

Coliseum, Bettino Craxi, 1997/1997, From the collection of: Bettino Craxi Foundation
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In the last century El-Djem and it’s Colosseum were the scene of a revolt by the local population against the fiscal reform of the Bey of Tunis. The revolt was suffocated in blood and the Bey of Tunis demolished a wing of the amphitheater so it could never be used again in the future for other revolts

Coliseum, Bettino Craxi, 1997/1997, From the collection of: Bettino Craxi Foundation
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"Not being able to go to Rome and see the beauty of the Colosseum, in my Tunisian exile, when I go to El-Djem, were I feell at home again"
Bettino Craxi

War of Africa (1995) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

War of Africa - Bettino Craxi               

Introduction to a collection of lithographs in which are represented some maps that show deployements in the field of battle during the African war between 1942 and 1943.

War of Africa. Situation of Italian troops in Tunisia on 21th November 1942 (1995) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Situation of Italian troops in Tunisia on 21th November 1942

War of Africa. Situation of the opposing forces in Tunisia on December 26th, 1942 (1995) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Situation of the opposing forces in Tunisia on December 26th, 1942.

War of Africa. Situation of the Italian-German forces in Tunisia on 12th January 1943 (1995/1995) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Situation of the Italian-German forces in Tunisia on 12th January 1943

War of Africa. Situation in the sector of the "Superga" Division Command on 2th February 1943 (1995/1995) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Situation in the sector of the "Superga" Division Command on 2th February 1943

War of Africa. Situation of the opposing forces in Tunisia on 18th March, 1943. (1995/1995) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Situation of the opposing forces in Tunisia on 18th March, 1943.

War of Africa. Deployment of the "Superga" division on 24th April 1943. (1995/1995) by Bettino CraxiBettino Craxi Foundation

Deployment of the "Superga" division on 24th April 1943.

Credits: All media
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