Attilio Rossi, the man who brought Picasso's Guernica to Milan
In 1953, Milan's Palazzo Reale hosted a landmark Picasso exhibition, but its centerpiece—Guernica—almost didn't make it. Artist and illustrator Attilio Rossi (1909–1994) used his diplomatic skills and friendship with Picasso to secure the loan. Rossi, who had lived in Argentina and knew Spanish, was tasked with designing promotional posters. He traveled to Vallauris, France, in early September 1953 to persuade Picasso, who feared Franco's government would claim the painting. Rossi showed photos of the Sala delle Cariatidi, a bomb-damaged hall from WWII, suggesting it as a backdrop for Guernica and other anti-war works. Picasso agreed, but the painting arrived three weeks after the show opened on September 26, remaining only until November 14—just over a month of the three-month exhibition. The display included 329 works, far more than the Rome leg. Rossi also prevented a hasty restoration of the Sala, preserving its war-scarred atmosphere. The exhibition marked Milan's cultural rebirth, but the city today may be neglecting its role as a European art capital.
Key facts
- Attilio Rossi (1909–1994) was an Italian artist and illustrator.
- He lived in Argentina from 1935 to 1950 and knew Spanish.
- Rossi was friends with Pablo Picasso, having met him through shared political sympathies.
- In 1953, he traveled to Vallauris to persuade Picasso to lend Guernica to Milan.
- Picasso initially refused, fearing Franco's government would claim the painting.
- Rossi showed photos of the Sala delle Cariatidi, a bomb-damaged hall in Palazzo Reale.
- Picasso agreed after seeing the photos, though his notes show no special interest in the hall's aesthetics.
- Guernica arrived on October 5, three weeks after the exhibition opened on September 26.
- The painting remained only until November 14, just over a month.
- The exhibition featured 329 works, compared to 248 in Rome.
- Rossi stopped a quick restoration of the Sala delle Cariatidi to preserve its war-damaged state.
- The exhibition was considered a success and marked Milan's cultural renaissance.
Entities
Artists
- Attilio Rossi
- Pablo Picasso
- Françoise Gilot
- Diego Rivera
- Frida Kahlo
- Lucio Fontana
- Rafael Alberti
- Jorge Luis Borges
- Pablo Neruda
Institutions
- Palazzo Reale di Milano
- Museum of Modern Art, New York
- Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
- Brera
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Rome
- Vallauris
- France
- New York
- United States
- Argentina
- Buenos Aires
- Mexico
- Madrid
- Spain
- Paris
- Chile