Aristide Sartorio's 'Poema della Vita Umana' Restored and Exhibited in Venice

After over a century, Aristide Sartorio's monumental cycle 'Il Poema della Vita Umana' is on view in its entirety at Ca' Pesaro in Venice. The 240-square-meter work, comprising 14 canvases, was created in just nine months for the 1907 Venice Biennale on the proposal of secretary general Antonio Fradeletto and with the approval of Gabriele D'Annunzio. Despite initial criticism, it remained installed for the 1909 edition and was donated by King Vittorio Emanuele III to Ca' Pesaro, founded in 1902. Dismantled in April 1910, it has never been exhibited in full until now. The exhibition, curated by Matteo Piccolo and director Elisabetta Barisoni, restores the cycle's philological completeness and cultural context through documents and coeval works. The installation recreates the original layout, featuring Rodin's 'Pensatore' and Klinger's 'Bagnante' at the center. Sartorio used cold encaustic (wax, turpentine, and poppy oil) for rapid execution and sculptural quality. The four main scenes—'La Luce', 'Le Tenebre', 'L'amore', and 'La morte'—are interspersed with ten vertical pilasters. The work's autobiographical dimension stems from Sartorio's personal tragedy: the separation from his daughter by his first wife. The overall meaning remains elusive despite letters and writings, including a catalog text and an article in 'Il Secolo XX'.