Edoardo Persico: The Revolutionary Italian Architecture Critic
Edoardo Persico, a key figure in 20th-century Italian architecture criticism, died at just 35 in 1936, despite a brief career. He studied law, dabbled in politics, wrote a novel, tried his hand at publishing, and co-directed Casabella. In 1929, he organized an exhibition featuring artists like Jessie Boswell and Carlo Levi, promoting Impressionist light painting against the Novecento style. He had great admiration for Lucio Fontana and dedicated his last writings to him. On January 21, 1935, he presented a lecture in Turin titled "Profezia dell'architettura," where he described architecture as a "project of liberty." His notable designs include the Parker shop in Milan (1934) and the Salone d'Onore for the VI Triennale di Milano. The details of his sudden death remain unclear. This piece is by Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi.
Key facts
- Edoardo Persico died at age 35 on January 10, 1936.
- He was co-director of Casabella and a critic, polemicist, and designer.
- Persico organized a 1929 exhibition of six artists: Boswell, Chessa, Galante, Levi, Menzio, Paulucci.
- He championed Lucio Fontana and wrote about him.
- His lecture 'Profezia dell'architettura' was on January 21, 1935 in Turin.
- He designed the Parker shop in Milan (1934), Sala delle Medaglie d'Oro (1934), and Salone d'Onore at the VI Triennale.
- Persico's death is mysterious; he was found naked with a shattered liver.
- His papers were confiscated and lost.
Entities
Artists
- Edoardo Persico
- Jessie Boswell
- Gigi Chessa
- Nicola Galante
- Carlo Levi
- Francesco Menzio
- Enrico Paulucci
- Lucio Fontana
- Fiorenzo Tomea
- Gabriele Mucchi
- Lionello Venturi
- Gio Ponti
- Lisa Ponti
- Marcello Nizzoli
- Giancarlo Palanti
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Le Corbusier
- Sherwood Anderson
- Andrea Camilleri
- Giulia Veronesi
- Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi
Institutions
- Casabella
- Società Pro Cultura Femminile dell’Istituto Fascista di Cultura
- VI Triennale di Milano
- Palazzo dell’Arte
- Parker
- Vallecchi
- Hacca
- Artribune
Locations
- Turin
- Italy
- Milan
- Largo Margherita
- Catania