Ottone Rosai was an Italian painter whose life and work spanned the first half of the 20th century, leaving a significant mark on the Italian art scene. Born on April 28, 1895, in Florence, Italy, Rosai's early life was steeped in the rich cultural heritage of his birthplace, a city renowned for its artistic legacy. His father was an artisan, which perhaps provided the young Rosai with an early exposure to the world of creativity and craftsmanship. Rosai's formal education in art began at the Istituto d'Arte in Florence, a foundational experience that introduced him to the basics of artistic expression. His talent and passion for art were evident early on, leading to his enrollment at the prestigious Florence Academy of Fine Arts. However, his time at the academy was cut short; he was expelled in 1921 following a disagreement with a teacher. Despite this setback, Rosai's artistic journey was far from over. In fact, it was during these formative years that he began to develop his distinctive style and voice as an artist. The early 20th century was a period of great artistic ferment in Italy, and Rosai found himself at the heart of it. In 1912, he graduated from the Florence Academy of Fine Arts, a time when he was closely associated with the Lacerba group of Florentine Futurists. This group, and especially Ardengo Soffici, had a profound influence on Rosai's early work. In 1914, he and Soffici held a joint exhibition at the Galleria Sprovieri in Rome, marking an important milestone in his career. World War I was a turning point for many artists of Rosai's generation, and he was no exception. Serving in the Italian army during the war, Rosai returned to Florence with a changed perspective. He briefly explored Metaphysical Painting but soon developed a personal style that depicted scenes of urban life, particularly working-class Florence, in a quasi-naive manner. This period saw Rosai's art evolve, with a focus on capturing the essence of everyday life and the human condition. The 1920s and 1930s were decades of significant artistic output for Rosai. He held his first solo show at Palazzo Capponi in 1920 and began contributing to the magazine Il Selvaggio in 1926. His participation in the Seconda Mostra del Novecento Italiano in Milan in 1929 and a solo show organized by Edoardo Persico at the Galleria del Milione in 1930 further established his reputation. From about 1930, Rosai painted large landscapes and townscapes, incorporating mild Cubist stylization into his work. Rosai's contributions to Italian art were recognized with a teaching post at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts in 1942. His participation in the Venice Biennale, beginning with the 18th Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte della Città di Venezia in 1932, was a testament to his standing in the art world. The Venice Biennale organized a large-scale retrospective of his work in 1956, a year before his death, highlighting his importance to Italian modernism. Ottone Rosai passed away on May 13, 1957, in Ivrea (Turin), Italy. His legacy is that of an artist who was deeply connected to his roots in Florence yet capable of evolving and adapting his style in response to the changing artistic currents of his time. Rosai's work remains a vital part of Italy's artistic heritage, celebrated for its unique blend of tradition and innovation, its evocative portrayal of urban life, and its contribution to the movements of Expressionism and Futurism. Through his paintings, Rosai captured the spirit of his era, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire and captivate audiences.

Ottone Rosai Quotes and Sales of Works

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