Alberto Martini's Poe Illustrations at Galleria Carlo Virgilio
Curated by Alessandro Botta, the exhibition "Alberto Martini. La penna è il bisturi dell'arte" at Galleria Carlo Virgilio in Rome highlights the illustrations of Alberto Martini for Edgar Allan Poe's stories. Martini (1876-1954), a prominent Italian illustrator of the 20th century, also created artwork for Dante, Pulci, and Shakespeare. He began illustrating Pulci's "Morgante Maggiore" at the age of 18 and showcased his drawings at the Venice Biennale in 1897. In 1905, he encountered critic Vittorio Pica, who assisted him in winning the Alinari competition for Dante's "Divine Comedy." Martini's illustrations for Poe, created between 1905 and 1909, utilized pen and ink techniques. After experiencing neglect in the 1930s, he returned to Italy and passed away in Milan in 1954. Botta connects his symbolist approach to the Poe illustrations.
Key facts
- Alberto Martini (1876-1954) was a major Italian illustrator of the 20th century.
- He is known for illustrating texts by Dante, Pulci, Poe, and Shakespeare.
- His fame is limited due to confusion with sculptor Arturo Martini.
- He was born in Oderzo (Treviso) to painter Giorgio Martini and Countess Maria Spineda de Cattaneis.
- At 18, he illustrated Pulci's 'Morgante Maggiore' with 13 neo-medieval plates.
- In 1897, he presented 'La corte dei miracoli' at the Venice Biennale.
- He met critic Vittorio Pica in Turin in 1898, who became his mentor.
- He won the Alinari competition in 1900 to illustrate Dante's 'Divine Comedy'.
- In 1905, he began collaborating with 'La Lettura' and designed covers for 'Poesia'.
- From 1905 to 1909, he illustrated Poe's tales, developing his noir and esoteric style.
- He created 54 lithographs titled 'Danza Macabra' before WWI, used as British propaganda.
- In the 1920s, he collaborated with Galleria Pesaro and exhibited at the Venice Biennale.
- He moved to Paris from 1928 to 1934, illustrating Rimbaud, Baudelaire, and De Vigny.
- He died in Milan in 1954.
- Alessandro Botta curated the exhibition 'Alberto Martini. La penna è il bisturi dell'arte' at Galleria Carlo Virgilio in Rome.
- The exhibition focuses on Martini's drawings for Poe's tales.
Entities
Artists
- Alberto Martini
- Arturo Martini
- Giorgio Martini
- Maria Spineda de Cattaneis
- Vittorio Pica
- Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
- Federico Zandomeneghi
- Alessandro Botta
- Dante Alighieri
- Luigi Pulci
- Edgar Allan Poe
- William Shakespeare
- Arthur Rimbaud
- Charles Baudelaire
- Alfred de Vigny
Institutions
- Galleria Carlo Virgilio
- Biennale di Venezia
- Società Promotrice di Belle Arti di Torino
- Alinari
- La Lettura
- Corriere della Sera
- Poesia
- Galleria Pesaro
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Oderzo
- Treviso
- Venice
- Munich
- Germany
- Turin
- Milan
- Paris
- France