The “Giacomo Vittone” Artists’ House in Canale di Tenno is hosting a new exhibition entitled “On the Island of Silence. Trentino Artists in Burano, 1909-1919”, which highlights the contribution of Trentino artists to the first School of Burano. The exhibition focuses on the period between 1909 and 1919, a crucial decade for the formation and evolution of the artistic community on the Venetian island.
The painter Umberto Moggioli (Trento, 1886 – Rome, 1919) played a fundamental role in the transfer of Trentino artists from Venice to Burano. Moggioli was looking for an environment far from the clamor of the lagoon, where he could dedicate himself to his art in tranquility. In his letters, such as the one addressed to his mother in 1905, he expressed the joy of working outdoors and admiring the colors of the sunrise and sunset reflected in the water.
Among the artists who followed Moggioli was Luigi Pizzini (Riva del Garda, 1884 – 1977), who settled in Mazzorbo to work near his friend. Despite initial financial difficulties, Pizzini managed to create numerous works during his stay on the island. Their friendship and collaboration are evidenced by the many letters exchanged between the two painters.
In addition to Moggioli and Pizzini, other artists joined the group on the small island. These included Tullio Garbari (Pergine Valsugana, 1892 – Paris, 1931), Gino Rossi (Venice, 1884 – Treviso, 1947), Pio Semeghini (Quistello, 1878 – Verona, 1964), and Arturo Martini (Treviso, 1889 – Milan, 1947). These artists were attracted by the opportunity to explore new artistic expressions far from the dominant academicism.
The Trentino artists regularly participated in exhibitions organized by Ca’ Pesaro. This exhibition space was founded in July 1908 thanks to Duchess Felicita Bevilacqua La Masa with the aim of promoting young talents excluded from major official exhibitions. Umberto Moggioli was one of the protagonists of the first exhibition with twenty-eight landscape works.
The exhibition not only celebrates the artists’ works but also the human relationships that developed during those years. Anna Moggioli Fontanazzi played a significant role in involving the other painters in the cultural life of the island. As curator Roberta Bonazza explains, “The exhibition traces the interweaving of artistic and human relationships that developed on the island during those years.”
The exhibition will be open from June 22nd to October 13th at the “Giacomo Vittone” Artists’ House. Among the exhibited works will be those by Umberto Moggioli, Luigi Pizzini, and Tullio Garbari, as well as other notable artists such as Attilio Lasta and Neno Mori. The house is open for visits from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm, with free admission.
Parallel to this, the exhibition “De Scultura” will also be inaugurated, presenting sculptural works in the enveloping rooms until August 11th.
The Artists’ House is managed by the Municipalities of Arco, Riva del Garda, and Tenno and is located in an easily accessible position for those who wish to immerse themselves in the history of local art on Lake Garda.
Italian Version
