DOI issue:
Nr. 220 (July 1911)
DOI article:Brinton, Selwyn John Curwen: The international art exhibition at Rome: the italian section
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20973#0153
International Art Exhibition, Rome
down to the sea near Terracina, indicates very But it is really Antonio Mancini, born at Naples,
appropriately the network of great roads with which but a Roman by many years of residence and art
Rome held together her vast empire; and Mom creation, who redeems this whole Italian section
Sacer on the left signifies—by its association with of the Belle Arti from the imminent risk of
that famous secession of the Roman plebs from mediocrity; his eight paintings lift him to the
the Senate—the fact that a just and wise expansion first rank among modern painters of the portrait,
of the franchise can alone unite the peoples under Above all he is a colourist of unrivalled greatness,
one empire. His portraits of women here are seated, while in the
Opposite to this important and dignified work male portraits standing erect he gains the full ad-
are Signor Camillo Innocenti's brilliant impressionist vantage of the height of the figure. But how
renderings of modern life. This artist has really spent delightful are these seated portraits of women,
some time in Paris, and his work, brilliantly clever as revealing all the grave tenderness and personal
it is, has acquired quite a Parisian touch. In his charm of the Roman and North Italian women.
Night Scene in the Bois de Boulogne, in the clever Loveliest of all and most brilliant in treatment is
nude near this, and the fine portrait, he shows him- the Geltrude, a portrait of extraordinary brilliancy,
self a painter of original talent who is searching out in which great pieces of mother-of-pearl are actually
for himself a new path. embedded within the colour-impaste of the rich
Another Roman artist of individuality and interest gown. One trembles to think what might be the
is Arturo Noci, who has only one painting here, of effect on unintelligent imitators of this technique,
two girls at their toilet: a work treated with touches and among my Roman friends, who have known his
of pure colour, by what is often called the " divi- work from the first, there are those who prefer to
sionist" method. In the same room Lionne, find the Mancini of earlier days in the Female Nude
another Roman resident, uses the same method for Figure of this exhibition, with its sobriety of colour
a scene of popular life, Outside Porta S. Giovanni: and refinement of drawing.
and to the same Roman school belong Parisiani We pass from the Mancini portraits to the room
(Tiber at Ostea) and Raggio, this latter still paint- devoted to the work of Henry Coleman. I knew
ingat nearly eighty-four years.
The portrait of Baron
Nathan, Sindaco of Rome,
by Balla, though a good but
scarcely a flattering likeness,
is not a pleasing work of art;
but a clever painting by
Signorina Annie Nathan,
whom I understand to have
studied under Balla, shows
considerable promise. Gus-
tavo Bacarisas, a native of
Gibraltar, has a brilliant
study of the Soko at Tangiers.
Near this, Ferretti's portrait
is scarcely equal to his land-
scape with the stone pines
bathed in golden sunlight,
and Pio Joris, Battaglia,
whose work I remember at
Venice with its fine loose
technique, and Grassi, with
his triptych of the Castel
S. Angelo {Ascensione), repre-
sent the Roman school in
this large room, while Nomel-
lini has his Garibaldians
leaving Quarto. "geltrude
132
by antonio mancini
down to the sea near Terracina, indicates very But it is really Antonio Mancini, born at Naples,
appropriately the network of great roads with which but a Roman by many years of residence and art
Rome held together her vast empire; and Mom creation, who redeems this whole Italian section
Sacer on the left signifies—by its association with of the Belle Arti from the imminent risk of
that famous secession of the Roman plebs from mediocrity; his eight paintings lift him to the
the Senate—the fact that a just and wise expansion first rank among modern painters of the portrait,
of the franchise can alone unite the peoples under Above all he is a colourist of unrivalled greatness,
one empire. His portraits of women here are seated, while in the
Opposite to this important and dignified work male portraits standing erect he gains the full ad-
are Signor Camillo Innocenti's brilliant impressionist vantage of the height of the figure. But how
renderings of modern life. This artist has really spent delightful are these seated portraits of women,
some time in Paris, and his work, brilliantly clever as revealing all the grave tenderness and personal
it is, has acquired quite a Parisian touch. In his charm of the Roman and North Italian women.
Night Scene in the Bois de Boulogne, in the clever Loveliest of all and most brilliant in treatment is
nude near this, and the fine portrait, he shows him- the Geltrude, a portrait of extraordinary brilliancy,
self a painter of original talent who is searching out in which great pieces of mother-of-pearl are actually
for himself a new path. embedded within the colour-impaste of the rich
Another Roman artist of individuality and interest gown. One trembles to think what might be the
is Arturo Noci, who has only one painting here, of effect on unintelligent imitators of this technique,
two girls at their toilet: a work treated with touches and among my Roman friends, who have known his
of pure colour, by what is often called the " divi- work from the first, there are those who prefer to
sionist" method. In the same room Lionne, find the Mancini of earlier days in the Female Nude
another Roman resident, uses the same method for Figure of this exhibition, with its sobriety of colour
a scene of popular life, Outside Porta S. Giovanni: and refinement of drawing.
and to the same Roman school belong Parisiani We pass from the Mancini portraits to the room
(Tiber at Ostea) and Raggio, this latter still paint- devoted to the work of Henry Coleman. I knew
ingat nearly eighty-four years.
The portrait of Baron
Nathan, Sindaco of Rome,
by Balla, though a good but
scarcely a flattering likeness,
is not a pleasing work of art;
but a clever painting by
Signorina Annie Nathan,
whom I understand to have
studied under Balla, shows
considerable promise. Gus-
tavo Bacarisas, a native of
Gibraltar, has a brilliant
study of the Soko at Tangiers.
Near this, Ferretti's portrait
is scarcely equal to his land-
scape with the stone pines
bathed in golden sunlight,
and Pio Joris, Battaglia,
whose work I remember at
Venice with its fine loose
technique, and Grassi, with
his triptych of the Castel
S. Angelo {Ascensione), repre-
sent the Roman school in
this large room, while Nomel-
lini has his Garibaldians
leaving Quarto. "geltrude
132
by antonio mancini