Forgotten Divisionist: The Tragic Life of Matteo Olivero
Matteo Olivero, a painter from Piedmont associated with Italian Divisionism, was born in Pratorotondo, Acceglio, in 1879. Following the death of his father from cholera, he relocated to Cuneo in 1891 and completed his education at a technical institute in 1895. To finance his studies at the Accademia Albertina in Turin, his mother sold their farm, where he studied under Giacomo Grosso and Leonardo Bistolfi. In 1900, he received a scholarship to Paris, where he encountered Picasso and Segantini. He made his debut with 'L lunes' in 1901 and showcased 'Ultime capanne' in 1902, forming a friendship with Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo. After his mother passed away in 1930, he took his own life in 1932. His artworks are housed in the Pinacoteca Matteo Olivero, and his story was portrayed in Andrea Icardi's film released in 2017.
Key facts
- Matteo Olivero was born in 1879 in Pratorotondo, a hamlet of Acceglio in Val Maira, and died in 1932 in Saluzzo.
- He studied at the Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti in Turin under Giacomo Grosso and Leonardo Bistolfi.
- In 1900 he won a scholarship to Paris, where he saw works by Picasso, Braque, and Segantini.
- His painting 'Ultime capanne' was exhibited at the 1902 Quadriennale di Belle Arti, where he met Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo.
- He developed a Divisionist style focused on landscapes of Val Maira, religious scenes, and portraits.
- He was supported by collectors Alice Galimberti Schanzer and Luigi Burgo.
- After his mother's death in 1930, he committed suicide in 1932 by jumping from a window.
- His works are in the Pinacoteca Matteo Olivero in Saluzzo; a documentary by Andrea Icardi was released in 2017.
Entities
Artists
- Matteo Olivero
- Giacomo Grosso
- Leonardo Bistolfi
- Pablo Picasso
- Georges Braque
- Giovanni Segantini
- Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo
- Andrea Icardi
Institutions
- Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti
- Promotrice
- Quadriennale di Belle Arti
- Pinacoteca Matteo Olivero
- Artribune
Locations
- Pratorotondo
- Acceglio
- Val Maira
- Cuneo
- Turin
- Paris
- Saluzzo
- Verzuolo
- Italy