Chess, pendulum and Leopardi’s skeleton: «My paintings, homage to my friendship with Vanni»

Of Francesca Marchetti

Casa Leopardi has opened the new art exhibition by the painter Antonio Greco “Io, Giacomo – homage to Vanni Leopardi” which will be open to the public from today until June 30th in the Stanza del ‘900, an exhibition space dedicated to modern and contemporary arts on the first floor of the building, adjacent to the historic library. Present at the vernissage were the mayor Antonio Bravi and the councilor for Culture Rita Soccio, in pre-election press silence.

«This exhibition was born from a very beautiful and romantic story – the hostess Olimpia Leopardi began in the presentation – when in June 2014 my father Vanni, then in perfect health, and Antonio met by chance in the little Saturday square of the village and in a short time they became very dear friends. From that meeting, united by the same passion, they conceived this pictorial project which deals with the objects that belonged to Giacomo and one in particular, which the artist himself will tell you about. Unfortunately my father wasn’t able to see this exhibition but opening it gives me a double emotion: personal, given the friendship that bound the artist to his father, and artistic, given the depth of the works on display and the sensitivity of Antonio Greco. And it’s true, when dreams come true there is great satisfaction.”

Vanni Leopardi, the poet’s great-grandson, passed away in 2019 at the age of 77. Antonio Greco, born in Syracuse in 1982 and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, explained how the solo exhibition was born: «I was in Recanati as a visitor and just before leaving I decided to see the Colle dell’Infinito once again, but a storm broke out and the only place to take refuge was the bar not far from Casa Leopardi. We found ourselves talking, he was a curious and open person, we had many interests in common and the idea for this exhibition that you see today was born in half an hour. He told me “Paint something for Giacomo” and dragged me into the ancient rooms where Leopardi had lived, full of everyday objects familiar to him and most of all I was struck by the chessboard, a metaphor for life. Olimpia has inherited this project that linked me to Vanni years ago, which I remember with emotion and which I still feel alive and present”.

Antonio Greco, The paper hedge, 2023, oil on canvas, 60×70 cm

Antonio Greco did not hide the great emotion of being able to revive such precious artefacts in his paintings. «My pictorial work investigates both the intimate relationship with objects of affection, key elements of everyday life that accompany us throughout life, and the human condition and our existential questions. I had already painted “Hypothesis of a chess game with the double” on the theme of the duplicity of the human soul – continued Greco – and after the visit with Vanni what I call a reflection in images on the poet’s objects was born. Giacomo Leopardi loved his books, the armillary sphere, the silver skeleton, the clock in his room and the chessboard, all pieces with a strong symbolism. He loved playing and winning, chess was the trait d’union with the Marquise Gertrude Cassi Lazzari, who made him experience love for the first time. I like to think that the funeral cast, which I reproduced, was the last imprint of his existence and that my works bring back to this room a part of what Giacomo was.”

The “Io, Giacomo” exhibition can be visited at Palazzo Leopardi every day, from 9am to 5.30pm. For information visit the website www.giacomoleopardi.it

Presentation of the exhibition Io, Giacomo by Antonio Greco at Casa Leopardi