Epifanio Rossetti Collection

Project Description

[…] He saw , in fact , what most people do not see, keen and tenacious observer. He loved art, which for him included two great ideas: Poetry and Painting. His passion – although not practiced and then only inherent – appeared in some lyrics full of color:

n’azzurro càrreco

pe ddo’ se sfumano

vene oro-pallido:

na rarità…

( «Palomme» )

‘Sti ffronne pezzÏate e minutelle,

ariose e fine, legge e delicate

comm’ a scelle venàte ‘e palummelle,

so pizze ‘e velo antico ricamate!

( «Capilvenere» )

Skill of a painter not militant, but he had within himself, by instinct, a range of nuanced hues and fit together in unfailing harmony. So, he was assiduous and tireless regular of all the art exhibitions; so he, not a millionaire – but with a millionaire soul – bought without hesitation paintings and sketches which had affected his taste, his tendencies, his preferences.

In the vast world of watercolors, black and white; of oil paintings and pastels, his soul was exalted and pacified, he enjoyed his share of torment and joy.

He was a close friend of famous painters, he evaluated – understanding them – their high aspirations, their superhuman efforts to reach and stop on the canvas a dream of inimitable beauty: he lived, almost, their lives. Then, self-enclosed, in long moments of solitude, he remembered being a poet and confided to his sheets sweet or bitter, mild or profound, but always suffused of music, which was like a home in his big heart, thoughts.

[ … ] When he came to my office, it was a great party. He admired and discussed my paintings: he valorized their most unexpected beauty. [ … ] This is why the memory of Epifanio Rossetti is always alive in my heart, which so appreciated and loved him.»

( From the preface by Ettore De Mura

to the poems collection by Epifanio Rossetti

“Voce che resta”, Naples 1971 )

The portrait, result of acute psychological insight; the woman, inspiring and enigmatic muse; the landscape, immersed in the warm light of South: these are the main themes of the collection Epifanio Rossetti, which consists of a series of artworks that show the kaleidoscopic variety of styles and color ranges of a school, that of the Neapolitan tradition of painting, which straddling the Twentieth century, lived a memorable season. “Close friend of famous painters” , the poet Rossetti promoted a range of artists, from Casciaro to Crisconio , from Caputo to De Vanna, to name a few, all included in the selection that we present below. A virtual gallery that begins precisely with the portrait of the poet, depicted by explosives contrasts, entrusted to a pure color and strong brushstrokes, proverbial artistic elements of Carlo Verdecchia’s painting.