The Acquisitions and Exhibitions of the First Decade

De Fornaris's collection

Logo 3DFondazione De Fornaris

The artist Enrico Paulucci created the logo of the Foundation, inspired by a matrix of Felice Casorati.

Ettore De FornarisFondazione De Fornaris

The founder Ettore De Fornaris

The love and study of art and the artistic education of the community. These were the ideals that inspired the lawyer, artist and patron of the arts, Ettore De Fornaris, in his decision to destine all his assets to a foundation named after himself and his father Guido.

The first exhibition 1982Fondazione De Fornaris

"The First exhibition"

The De Fornaris Foundation appeared to the public for the first time on November 23, 1982, when an exhibition of an important collection of recently acquired masters of the twentieth century (Pietro Rossini) was set up in the foyer of the Teatro Regio in Turin.

Still life ([1948]) by Giorgio MorandiGalleria Civica di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Torino

On display 28 oils, watercolors and drawings by Giorgio Morandi with seven paintings by Filippo de Pisis and five by Felice Casorati. There were also two works each by Massimo Campigli, Ottone Rosai, Mario Sironi and Mario Mafai, for a total of 48 works dated between 1918 and 1962.

Still Life with Prawns and Shells (1929) by Filippo de Pisis,Fondazione De Fornaris

In the first exhibition, went on show 7 paintings by Filippo de Pisis, including Still Life with Prawns and Shells (1929)

Portrait of Clelia Ghedini Marani (1907) by Giacomo BallaFondazione De Fornaris

Portrait of Clelia Ghedini Marani (1907)by Giacomo Balla, is an example a work of the pre-futurist period of the collection. The work was purchased in 1983.

Free study for Portrait of Clelia Ghedini Marani (1907) by Giacomo BallaFondazione De Fornaris

Free study for Portrait of Clelia Ghedini Marani (1907)

The second exibition 1986-1987Fondazione De Fornaris

Modern Art in Turin

The second public event was the "Modern Art in Turin" exhibition, set up at "Promotrice delle Belle Arti", Turin, and curated by Rosanna Maggio Serra. On that occasion, 200 acquisitions were exhibited, illustrated in the first catalog published by Allemandi.

Lavorare sugli alberi (1968) by Giuseppe PenoneFondazione De Fornaris

Giuseppe Penone

"It will continue to grow except at that point; I have woven three trees; as it grows it will raise the net; the tree will remember the contact; my height, the length of my arms, my thickness in a stream", from Working on Trees- Maritime Alps (1968) 

The Woman and Armour (1921) by Felice CasoratiFondazione De Fornaris

Among the numerous works by Felice Casorati, the famous painting The woman and the armor (1921).

Collection of 194 sketchess from different periods by Felice CasoratiFondazione De Fornaris

The two albums of Felice Casorati's drawings provide interesting references to his paintings.

Surface 89 (1952) by Giuseppe CapogrossiFondazione De Fornaris

Surface 89(1952) by Giuseppe Capogrossi, tempera on canvas

White (1952) by Alberto BurriGalleria Civica di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Torino

Alberto Burri

In 1986 important works by the artist were purchased: White (1952), (Great) Iron M5 (1958) and Sack (1952).

Sack (1958) by Alberto BurriFondazione De Fornaris

Sack (1952) by Alberto Burri
Sack, canvas, acrylics, vinyl glue

(Great) Iron M5 (1952) by Alberto BurriFondazione De Fornaris

(Great) Iron M5 (1958) by Alberto Burri
Collage of iron sheets

Asphyxia! (left side) (1884) by Angelo MorbelliFondazione De Fornaris

In the exhibition "Modern Art in Turin" also Asphyxia! (1884) by Angelo Morbelli.

Still life with salame (1919) by Giorgio De ChiricoFondazione De Fornaris

The collection includes significant names in the history of Italian art of the twentieth century: among these Giorgio de Chirico, present with the masterpiece Natura morta con salame (1919).

Straight Away (1962) by Salvatore ScarpittaFondazione De Fornaris

Straight Away (1962), by Salvatore Scarpitta: cardboard, elastic bands, plastic materials on a wooden frame.

Appassionata (1940) by Carol RamaFondazione De Fornaris

Among the most significant female presences is Carol Rama: among other works Appassionata, 1940.

Boy with a ball (1932) by Mario MafaiFondazione De Fornaris

The collection has an interesting oil on canvas by Mario Mafai: Boy with a ball (1932)

Little woman (1953/1954) by Fausto MelottiFondazione De Fornaris

One of the two Little Women (1953-1954) by Fausto Melotti, present in the collection

Six Colours (1975) by Giorgio GriffaFondazione De Fornaris

Six colours (1975) by Giorgio Griffa
Acrylic on untreated canvas

Da gli scuri Cacciati (1984) by Marco GastiniFondazione De Fornaris

Da gli scuri cacciati (1984) by Marco Gastini
Paint, plaster, assemblage of coal, carob, wood, glass and lead on wood

Division of the Mirror (1975/1978) by Michelangelo PistolettoFondazione De Fornaris

Division of the mirror (1975-1978) by Michelangelo Pistoletto: a new declination for a recurring theme in the artist's activity

Female Portrait (1903) by Umberto BoccioniFondazione De Fornaris

The purchase of Portrait of a Woman, pastel on paper by Umberto Boccioni made in 1903, dates back to 1990.

Spring n.256 (1935) by Mario SturaniFondazione De Fornaris

Mario Sturani

Sturani is a painter, graphic designer and ceramist. Friend of Cesare Pavese, he collaborated with the Lenci company. He was also a naturalist and entomologist, exhibited with the futurists and also worked for Vogue in Paris. The widow Luisa Monti donated five ceramic works he created for Lenci to the De Fornaris Foundation, including La Primavera n. 256 in 1990.

Untitled (1966) by Giulio PaoliniFondazione De Fornaris

Untitled (1966) by Giulio Paolini
Indelible pencil and tempera on raw canvas

Che fare? (1968) by Mario MerzFondazione De Fornaris

Einaudi collection

In 1991 the Fondazione De Fornaris bought the contemporary art collection of the Einaudi publishing house then in the hands of the bankruptcy trustees. There are works by Mario Merz, Aldo Mondino, Giulio Paolini and Michelangelo Pistoletto, together with paintings by Giuseppe Capogrossi and Emilio Vedova. Also sketches for book covers by Bruno Cassinari, Carlo Levi, Francesco Menzio and works by Renato Guttuso for Pablo Neruda's Poems.

Credits: Story

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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