Luciano Ventrone's Posthumous Exhibition in Venice Explores Still Life and Painting
The exhibition 'Ventrone. La natura è morta la pittura è viva' at Palazzo Pisani Revedin in Venice, curated by Luca Beatrice, presents 35 works by the late Luciano Ventrone (1942–2021). Ventrone abandoned architecture studies in 1968 to focus on painting, developing a meticulous hyperrealist technique in still life. The show contrasts his approach with Giorgio Morandi's, as both represent opposite sides of the same coin: Morandi brackets reality, while Ventrone's vibrant, detailed depictions of fruit and flowers initially seem to restore objecthood but ultimately reveal decay and vanity. Works like 'Gita a Tindari' (2012), 'Fiamme del tramonto' (2010), and 'I segni del tempo' (2010) show wrinkled lemons, split oranges, and withered grapes under artificial light, described by Vittorio Sgarbi as 'metaphysical evidence.' The exhibition also includes non-still-life pieces such as 'Alice' (2015), a back nude, and seascapes 'Limbo' (2011) and 'Illusioni su misura' (2021), demonstrating Ventrone's versatility. Curator Beatrice concludes: 'Nature is dead, painting is alive.'
Key facts
- Exhibition runs at Palazzo Pisani Revedin in Venice.
- Curated by Luca Beatrice.
- Features 35 works by Luciano Ventrone.
- Ventrone was born in Rome in 1942 and died in Collelongo in 2021.
- He abandoned architecture studies in 1968 for painting.
- Works include 'Gita a Tindari' (2012), 'Fiamme del tramonto' (2010), 'I segni del tempo' (2010), 'Alice' (2015), 'Limbo' (2011), and 'Illusioni su misura' (2021).
- Ventrone's technique is hyperrealist oil with mixed media on linen.
- The exhibition contrasts Ventrone with Giorgio Morandi.
Entities
Artists
- Luciano Ventrone
- Luca Beatrice
- Giorgio Morandi
- Vittorio Sgarbi
- Paul Cézanne
- Giorgio de Chirico
Institutions
- Palazzo Pisani Revedin
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Rome
- Collelongo