Felice Casorati's 'Musical Painting' in Major Parma Exhibition

The Fondazione Magnani-Rocca in Mamiano di Traversetolo, near Parma, hosts a major monographic exhibition on Felice Casorati (1883–1963), subtitled 'Il concerto della pittura' (The Concert of Painting). The show explores Casorati's concept of 'musical painting', based on the principles of numerus, mensura, and pondus. Curated by Giorgia Bertolino, Stefano Roffi, and Daniela Ferrari, the exhibition features around 50 works spanning Casorati's career, from his 1907 debut at the Venice Biennale with a portrait of his sister Elvira to his stage designs for La Scala in the late 1940s–early 1950s. Highlights include 'Concerto' (exhibited at the 1924 Venice Biennale), described as a rondo built on variations of a single nude model; 'Beethoven' with a visible score; and a portrait of composer Alfredo Casella. The exhibition also presents 'Silvana Cenni', a fictional portrait often compared to Piero della Francesca, and 'Le signorine' (1912) from Ca' Pesaro. Casorati's works from the 1920s reflect a 'return to order', with suspended, enigmatic atmospheres and self-referential studio elements. The show includes sculptures, drawings, and archival materials, emphasizing the artist's lifelong dialogue between silence, rhythm, and music.