Modern Art Paintings

Art of the 19th and 20th centuries.

View of Istanbul (1864/1864) by Ippolito CaffiBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

New approaches to art

In terms of time, it is considered modern art anything that has been produced  from 1860s to 1970s. This century has been crucial in experimenting and promoting new approaches to think about art and its process. This section provides some example of these new directions through the works presented by the galleries.

the young painter (1884/1884) by Cesare TalloneBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

A game of bowls with XVIII century clothes (1889) by Raffaello SorbiBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

The little sculptor (1895) by Antonio ManciniBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Symphony of the moon (Sketch) (1898/1898) by Plinio NomelliniBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

First Holy Communion in Positiano (unknown - unknown) by Vincenzo CaprileBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

From the Great Discoveries, Through the Gloomy Ages, to the Living Revival of the Race (1906/1906) by Giulio Aristide SartorioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

1900: when painting and sculpture met cinema

Giulio Aristide Sartorio in the following paintings represented the interpretation of classical art in the new century.

From the Myth of Brute Forces Tamed to the Most Recent Achievements of Science, (1906/1906) by Giulio Aristide SartorioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

The Advent of Art and Culture (1906/1923) by Giulio Aristide SartorioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Study for the frieze of the Parliament (1908/1913) by Giulio Aristide SartorioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Elena and Cassandra (1928/1928) by Giulio Aristide SartorioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Portrait of Marcella Rossellini (1922/1922) by Arturo NociBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Black, pink, purple bombardment (1941/1941) by Guglielmo Sansoni "Tato"Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

The disturbing muses (1955/1960) by Giorgio de ChiricoBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Metaphisical Painting

The Disquieting Muses is an iconic metaphisic paintings by Giorgio de Chirico. According to De Chirico, art has to represents the dimension that lays beyond reality: a place that man, due to its limitedness, cannot comprehend in its completeness. This explains the mystery of the figures represented. This dreamy picture represets the conjunction between the classic art, intended in the mannequins that recall Greek statues, and modern times as the industry in the background suggest.

Dawn (1956/1956) by Edita BroglioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Midday (1956/1956) by Edita BroglioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Sunset or Occaso (1956/1956) by Edita BroglioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Night (1956/1956) by Edita BroglioBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Spring (1925/1925) by Cagnaccio di San PietroBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Mannequin in the studio (1947/1947) by Pietro AnnigoniBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Nature morte polychrome (1949/1949) by Fernard LègerBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Under a new light

In 1940s, when in America, the painter Fernand Lèger painted compositions where freely arranged bands of colour are juxtaposed with figures and objects outlined in black. It were the neon lights of New York City that inspired the artist: "I was struck by the neon advertisements flashing all over Broadway. You are there, you talk to someone, and all of a sudden he turns blue. Then the color fades—another one comes and turns him red or yellow."

Untitled (1964) by Alexander CalderBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Nemo's Pad (1967) by Alexander CalderBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Arbre et maisons (1970/1970) by Marc ChagallBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Segno - disegno (1983 ca.) by Alighiero BoettiBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

White surface (1980/1980) by Enrico CastellaniBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Spatialism

Spatialism is an art movement founded in Milan in 1947 by the artist Lucio Fontana. The artists that joined this movement, such as Castellani and Bonalumi, whose works were exhibited in the Biennale, aimed  with their artworks to explore a new perception of Space, that has now to be considered the result of Time, Direction, Sound and Light.

Concetto spaziale, Attese, 1962 (1962) by Lucio FontanaBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Bianco, 1967 (1967) by Agostino BonalumiBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Red (1968) by Agostino BonalumiBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

White surface (1980/1980) by Enrico CastellaniBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

Credits: Story

I am gratefull to the staff of the Biennale Internazionale dell’Antiquariato and the Secretary Fabrizio Moretti for allowing this partnership to happen.
Thanks to the galleries that supported and joined this exhibition.
Special thanks to the kindness and patience of the staff of the Google Cultural Insitute and all the friends that have supported me in this project.
Luigi de Benedetto

Credits: All media
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