The figure of Mario Ferretti emerges as a bright and forgotten star in the artistic panorama of the 20th century. This third volume of the series “Rarità del Novecento Livornese” provides a comprehensive overview of his career, revealing a versatile artist with a unique temperament.
Ferretti, born in Livorno in 1915, began his artistic journey under the guidance of Beppe Guzzi at the Artistic Section of the Glassworks in 1937. These early formative years laid the foundation for his future creative evolution. The exhibition held at the Athena Art Gallery in Livorno showcases his early talent through a carefully selected collection of forty paintings and some significant graphic works.
One of Ferretti’s distinctive features was his ability to avoid adhering to defined artistic movements such as EAISMO, Futurism, or abstraction. Instead, the artist developed a personal language that experimented with synthetic formulas. This choice gave rise to a series of works expressing an aspiration towards modern monumentality without ever forsaking his innate inclination for distortion and a metaphysical vein.
His skill as a stained glass designer and poster creator played a significant role in his career. The sketches created for the “Littoriali della Vela e del Canotaggio,” promoted by GUF in 1937, demonstrate his versatility and ability to blend artistic aesthetics with communicative needs.
Despite his preference for synthetic forms, Ferretti didn’t hesitate to delve into paths of abstraction, showcasing a profound respect for the language of painting and its expressive possibilities. The abstract works presented in this exhibition demonstrate his mastery of using colour and form to evoke emotions and sensations.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the exhibition is the inclusion of the artist’s poems, previously published in a rare Livornese edition that is now exhausted. These texts add an intimate and personal dimension to his artistic output, allowing the audience to get closer to his inner world.
The introductory essay by Franco Sborgi, an expert in contemporary art history, provides an illuminating guide through the complexity of Ferretti’s work. The insightful reflections by Francesca Cagianelli further enrich the understanding of this fascinating figure.
In conclusion, the third volume of the “Rarità del Novecento Livornese” series is a well-deserved tribute to an eclectic and underrated artist of the 20th century. Mario Ferretti has left a significant artistic legacy, and the exhibition offers the public the opportunity to rediscover his creative restlessness, deep connection with Italian Novecento, and ability to transform reality into chromatic and formal suggestions.