Ausstellung Italienischer Kunst von 1800 bis zur Gegenwart (Exhibition of Italian Art from 1800 to the Present)

Maraini, Antonio (Introduction). Ausstellung Italienischer Kunst von 1800 bis zur Gegenwart (Exhibition of Italian Art from 1800 to the Present). Berlin: Printed at A. W. Hayn’s Erben, 1937. First edition. Octavo. 74pp., 40 plates, (10)pp. Original tan wraps with with lithograph depicting Mussolini and blue lettering on cover, protected by modern mylar. Hosted by the Royal Italian Government in cooperation with the Prussian Academy of Art in Berlin. November – December 1937. Lists members of Italian and German Honorary Committees, the German including Hermann Goering and Joseph Goebbels, the organizing committee, the committee for the selection of art and the curating of the exhibition, and the public and private lenders of art.

Exhibition of Italian art of the 19th and 20th century curated with the objective: “The will, to obtain maximum clarity by arranging work which is close in time and taste to achieve a faithful guide through the modern Italian art.” (Maraini). The introduction is divided into the galleries for the 19th and the 20th century. The introduction reveals the ‘conservative’ as much as the romantic stance of the art world in Italy: “Many times German artist came to Italy in the past, to travel and study, to find motifs and ideas for paintings and sculptures! In my youth I talked to the cheerful flocks, looking for the great memories of Feuerbach and Goethe on their travels from Rome to Olevano and many other places… The exhibited bust of Böcklin, this last master of his kind, is an honor for all those glorious artists who passed, and who forged an indestructible bond to Italy with their admirable works.” (Maraini).

Illustrated with forty full page b/w reproductions of artwork with captions. Contains plan of the exhibition at front and a detailed catalog of the work exhibited in twelve galleries. List of artists and artwork before pictorial part. Section with ten pages of illustrated advertisements at rear. Wraps with minor wear though lightly age-toned. Very good+ condition. Softcover. (52060) $75