Six New Art Books: From Futurist Architecture to a Love Letter to Rome

A roundup of six recent art publications in Italy covers Antonio Sant'Elia's futurist architecture, Ludovico Pratesi's six lessons on 21st-century art, Salvatore Iaconesi and Oriana Persico's love letter to Rome, Mathilde Hossenlopp's early 20th-century photographs of Indochina, the life of collector Sir Arthur Gilbert, and Afonso Cruz's bibliophilic reflections. The books are published by Abscondita, Castelvecchi, Luca Sossella, Humboldt Books, Sillabe, and Officina Libraria, respectively. Sant'Elia's volume, edited by Viviana Birolli, includes his key texts, drawings, and a critical essay. Pratesi's concise guide aims to dispel common prejudices about art. Iaconesi and Persico's 'Incuria' uses Rome's neglect as a starting point for a broader reflection on work, AI, and urban life. Hossenlopp's photographs, compiled by her great-grandson Tiane Doan na Champassak, offer a glimpse of colonial Indochina. Massinelli's biography traces Gilbert's journey from London to Beverly Hills and his collection now at the V&A. Cruz's 'Il vizio dei libri' is a series of short chapters celebrating reading and writing, interspersed with artworks.