LUCIANO VENTRONE IL VELO DI MAYA

LUCIANO VENTRONE IL VELO DI MAYA

ALBEMARLE

The Never-ending Evolution of ArtA Contemporary Master

‘I believe that the paintings exhibited today are only a phase, an initial phase, in Ventrone’s artistic journey.’ This is what Federico Zeri wrote in 1986. Twenty-four years on, looking at Ventrone’s new collection of works, one cannot but agree with the words of the distinguished critic and art historian that first ‘discovered’ the talent of the Roman artist.

The first association that these paintings provoke is with the thought of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. An evolution of the Platonic Myth of the Cave, permeated by metaphysical and epistemological concepts derived from Hindu philosophy and religion, his Veil of Maya correctly describes the philosophical potential that lies in Ventrone’s works. Maya – goddess of illusion – embodies reality, as it is perceived through one’s senses, which clouds with her veil the eyes of humankind preventing authentic knowledge. In Schopenhauer’s aesthetics, art is meant to ‘express’ and ‘represent’ the Platonic Ideas. Through art one can temporarily contemplate the essence of things and this is precisely the process that takes place in front of a still life, nude or a seascape of Luciano Ventrone. As the art-critic and author Edward Lucie-Smith wrote: ‘What we see in a Ventrone painting is not ‘real’ because it is not what we would see were we to look with the naked eye – we see more. Ventrone shows us things more fully and more clearly than they appear to us in reality; everything is in focus, everything can be scrutinised.’

The extraordinary mastery of the technical means makes of Ventrone a leader of a new figurative tradition. In his essay, published in 1989, Federico Zeri observed that ‘this is the second experience in European history of a return to figurative painting following a period of abstract, intellectual, anti-naturalist, arid cerebral formulae,’ referring to the naturalistic shift that characterised European art towards the end of the 16th century, with both the birth of still life and the development of a new aesthetic in art and architecture that stemmed from the Counter-Reformation, as exemplified by the writings of Gabriele Paleotti (1522-1597) or Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584). As a matter of fact every key moment in art history is marked by a declared return to naturalistic figuration. It happened with the artistic revolution of the 13th/14th century (i.e. the surviving frescoes and mosaics of Pietro Cavallini both in Rome and Naples, and the most famous fresco cycles by Giotto), it took place in the late 16th century and again in the mid-19th century with Gustave Courbet’s Realism. It is happening now with Luciano Ventrone. He is not the only representative of the genre commonly known as Hyperrealism, but he is by far the most accomplished author. His creations can be compared, for intellectual and technical significance, to the work of Masaccio, author of the ‘Trinitá’ in Santa Maria Novella, Florence (c. 1427). Ventrone, as the Florentine master before him, has conceived a new way to observe and think nature and, above all, has developed innovative technical and stylistic means to mark yet another fundamental step in the never-ending evolution of art.

Alessandro LorenzettiArt Market Correspondent for Il Sole 24 Ore

Art Market Analyst at Art Tactic Ltd.

1 Effimero oil on linen

160 x 140 cm (63 x 55 in)

2 Linguaggio Segreto oil on linen 80 x 80 cm (31 x 31 in)

3 Breve Palpito oil on linen

70 x 70 cm (28 x 28 in)

4 Il Vento all’Improvviso 80 x 100 cm (31 x 39 in)

5 Nuovo Segreto oil on linen 35 x 90 cm (14 x 35 in)

6 Colpo di Fulmine oil on linen 50 x 50 cm (20 x 20 in)

7 Tendere a...oil on linen

50 x 50 cm (20 x 20 in)

8 Eclisse Blu oil on linen 90 x 60 cm (35 x 24 in)

9 Elena oil on linen

90 x 60 cm (35 x 24 in)

10 Euforia oil on linen 60 x 70 cm (24 x 28 in)

11 Storia Barocca oil on linen 60 x 70 cm (24 x 28 in)

12 Sussurri oil on linen 60 x 90 cm (24 x 35 in)

13 Falo oil on linen 60 x 90 cm (24 x 35 in)

14 Arabesco oil on linen 50 x 60 cm (20 x 24 in)

15 Lucia oil on linen 55 x 150 cm (22 x 59 in)

16 Momento Magico oil on linen 60 x 70 cm (24 x 28 in)

17 Canto della Creazione oil on linen 60 x 70 cm (24 x 28 in)

18 Capricci oil on linen 60 x 60 cm (24 x 24 in)

18 Capricci oil on linen 60 x 60 cm (24 x 24 in)

19 Il Trio oil on linen

60 x 60 cm (24 x 24 in)

20 Pausa oil on linen 60 x 90 cm (24 x 35 in)

21 Concerto Notturno oil on linen 50 x 70 cm (20 x 28 in)

Luciano Ventrone was born in Rome in 1942. He is regarded by the Italian art establishment, museums, curators and critics as one of the leading exponents of his genre. He lives and works in Rome and Collelongo (L’Aquila), Italy.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2010 Palazzo del Broletto, ComoLuciano Ventrone, Marble Palace – Ludwig Museum in the Russian

Museum, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg2009 L’Inverosimile Verosimiglianza, curated by Beatrice Buscaroli, Fondazione Bandera, Busto Arsizio

Studio Forni, MilanoSimposio, Albemarle Gallery, London

2008 Luciano Ventrone e l’eterno presente, Galleria Forni, BolognaLuciano Ventrone. Le verità dipinte, Palazzo Luigi Einaudi, Chivasso –

TurinBernarducci & Meisel Gallery, New YorkLuciano Ventrone, Albemarle Gallery, London

2006 Luciano Ventrone and the Eternal Present, curated by E. Lucie-Smith, Albemarle Gallery, London

Luciano Ventrone, Correggio – Reggio EmiliaStudio Forni, Milan

2004 Xenia. Ossia Il gioco degli occhi, Studio Forni, Milan2003 Studio Forni, Milan2002 Portraits of Nicola Mancino and Marcello Pera, Presidents of the Senate of the Italian Republic, Rome

Two commissioned paintings for the bouvette of the Senate of the Italian Republic, Rome2001 Galleria Il Tempietto, Brindisi 2000 Studio Forni, Milan1999 Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona

Galleria Forni, Bologna1998 International Art Fair, Shanghai

Museo Civico, Chiusa - Bolzano Galleria Marieschi, Monza1997 Galleria Forni, Bologna

E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen1996 Galleria L’Incontro, Ancona1995 Galleria Bergamini, Milan

E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen1992 Galleria dello Scudo, Verona

Galleria Il Tempietto, Brindisi1993 Galleria Forni, Bologna1991 Galleria Forni Tendenze, Bologna1990 Galleria Forni, Tokyo

Galleria Apollodoro, Rome

1989 Galleria Wildenstein, London1986 Galleria Il Gabbiano, Rome1985 Galleria Consigli Arte, Parma

Galleria Davico, TurinHall Galleries Inc., Dallas

1982 Elac, Lyon1981 Palazzo Cenci, Rome1979 Galleria “Bottega dell’arte San Marco”, Porto Santo Stefano1978 Centro Cultural Bella Vista Porlamar, Isla de Margarita (Venezuela)1977 M. J. C. Maison pour tous, Chambery

Galleria L’oeil écouter, LyonGalleria Kohm, Saint-EtienneGalleria Arti Visive, Rome

1976 Palazzo Kursaal, Pallanza – Verbania M.J.C.Maison pour Tous, AnnemasseM.J.C. Maison pour Tous, RumillyMaison des Arts et Loisirs, Thonon-Les-Bains

1975 Galleria La Parete, Naples1974 Affresco, Aula della Corte d’Assise del Palazzo di Giustizia, Cassino

Galleria Isola Verde, Casalpalocco – Rome1972 Galleria L’Aventiniana, Rome

Galleria 818, Pescara1971 Galleria Interni, L’Aquila

Galleria Arti Visive, Rome1970 Sala comunale di Esposizione, Aosta1969 Galleria Il Buchetto, Rome1966 Facoltà di Architettura, Rome1964 Galleria Il Ferro di Cavallo, Rome1963 Galleria Il Fanale, Rome

Selected Group Exhibitions

2010 Art Chicago, ChicagoContemporary Realism, Albemarle Gallery London

2009 Arte Fiera, BolognaDonne di Roma, Auditorium Musica per Roma, RomeFigure, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, New YorkContemplazioni, Castello Sismondo, RiminiArt London, LondonNatura morta, Il Chiostro, Saronno

2008 Scope, New YorkArte Fiera, BolognaFace to Face, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, New YorkColori di Roma, Auditorium Parco della Musica, RomeOltre la realtà, Galleria Chiari, RomeFigurae, Villa Genoese Zerbi di Reggio Calabria

Oltre la realtà, Galleria 44, TurinSpazio Forni, RagusaArt London, Albemarle Gallery, London

2007 Arte Fiera, BolognaMiArt, MilanVisioni e illusioni, Castello Cinquecentesco, L’AquilaSummer Show, Albemarle Gallery, LondonLVII Premio Michetti, Francavilla al Mare – Chieti Arte Italiana 1968-2007. Pittura, curated by V. Sgarbi, Palazzo Reale, MilanNuovi realismi, PAC, MilanScope, New YorkL’alibi dell’oggetto. Morandi e gli sviluppi della natura morta in Italia, curated

by M. Pasquali, Fondazione Ragghianti, LuccaArte Fiera, Abu DhabiArt London, Albemarle Gallery, LondonWinter Show, Albemarle Gallery, London

2006 Arte Fiera, BolognaScope, New YorkL’Italia della Repubblica, Complesso Monumentale del Vittoriano, RomeAntologia della figurazione contemporanea. Italia: le ultime generazioni 1,

curated by G. Algranti, Galleria Figurae, MilanSui Generi. Figure in posa, Centro di Promozione Culturale “Le Muse”,

AndriaFigurae, Galleria Factory, ModenaFlowers, Palazzo Ducale, Pavullo nel FrignanoPrimer concurso de pintura figurativa, Barcelona10th Anniversary Show, Albemarle Gallery, London

2005 Terra, Galleria Marieschi, MilanIl ritratto interiore. Da Lotto a Pirandello, curated by V. Sgarbi, Museo

archeologico, AostaL’inquietudine del volto. Da Lotto a Freud, da Tiziano a De Chirico, curated

by V. Sgarbi, LodiSui Generi. Paesaggi in posa, Centro di Promozione Culturale “Le Muse”,

Andria2004 Arte Fiera, Bologna

Sui Generi. Nature in posa, Centro di Promozione Culturale “Le Muse”, Andria

MiArt, Milan Nudo, Galleria Forni, Bologna St’Art, StrasbourgArtParis, ParisFortino Napoleonico, AnconaLa ricerca dell’Identità. Da Tiziano a de Chirico, curated by V. Sgarbi, Polo

Culturale Sant’Agostino, Ascoli Piceno2003 Arte Fiera, Bologna

MiArt, MilanSt’Art, StrasbourgArtParis, ParisArt Miami, Miami

2002 “Italian Still Life Painting from the Silvano Lodi Collection”, Yamagata Museum of Art, Yamagata

Arte Fiera, BolognaMiArt, MilanMimesis et inventio. La natura morta nella pittura europea contemporanea,

curated by Gerd Lindner, Panorama Museum, Bad Frankenhausen20x20, Galleria Ibiscus, Ragusa

2001 Arte Fiera, BolognaMiArt, MilanTravelling exhibition: “Italian Still Life Painting from the Silvano Lodi

Collection”, Seiji Togo Memorial Yasuda Kasai Museum of Art, Shinjuku; Niigata City Art Museum, Niigata; Hakodate Museum of Art, Hokkaido; Toyama Shimin Plaza Art Gallery, Toyama; Ashikaga Museum of Art, Ashikaga1999 Art Miami, Miami

Arte Fiera, BolognaMiArt, MilanXIII Quadriennale, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, RomeImmagine d’impegno-Impegno d’immagine, Galleria Civica “Ex-mattatoio”,

RomeDa Boccioni a Bacon alla contemporaneità, Galleria Forni, Bologna

1997 Continuità dell’immagine, Mole Vanvitelliana, AnconaAncora calda è l’erba sui miei prati, Studio Forni, Milan

1996 Arte Fiera, BolognaMiArt, Milan

1995 Continuità del talento, Galleria Forni Tendenze, BolognaArte Expo, BariArt Chicago, ChicagoArtissima, TurinW il cinema, Galleria Il Gabbiano, RomeI grandi Mercanti: Tiziano Forni, curated by C. Malberti, Galleria Marieschi,

Monza1993 Arte Fiera, Bologna

Arte Expo, BariArtissima, TurinFrutti del pennello: quattrocento anni di natura morta italiana dalla collezione

Silvano Lodi, Israel Museum, Jerusalem1992 Arte Fiera, Bologna

Ma è calda l’erba sui miei prati, Galleria Forni Tendenze, Bologna1991 Arte Fiera, Bologna1990 Expo C.T., Milan

Sogo Esposizione d’arte italiana, TokyoArte Europea in Giappone, Museum Laforet, Tokyo

1987 Arte segreta, curated by V. Sgarbi, Galleria Forni, BolognaInternational Art Exposition, ChicagoParola Italia, Galleria Apollodoro, RomeLa natura morta nell’arte italiana del ‘900, curated by V. Sgarbi, Castello

Estense, MesolaFIAC, Paris

1986 Artexpo, Galleria Forni, New YorkFIAC, ParisLo studiolo di Francesco I de’ Medici e il suo doppio, Galleria Apollodoro,

Rome1985 International Art Fair, London

Expo Arte, BolognaExpo Arte C.T., MilanFIAC, Paris

1984 I Riflessivi, Narciso Arte, Fabriano1983 Expo Arte, Bari

Italian Trade Centre, London1977 M. J. C. Maison Pour Tous, Rumilly1976 M. J. C. Maison Pour Tous, Annemasse1974 Aspetti dell’arte contemporanea in Italia, Castello Sammarzano, Regello, Florence1966 Premio Avezzano, Avezzano1965 V Rassegna di Arti Figurative di Roma e del Lazio, Rome1964 I Mostra di Arte Sacra, Il Ferro di Cavallo, Rome

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