CAMPOBASSO – The Domenico Fratianni Association is pleased to announce the exhibition “Domenico Fratianni and the Mysteries of Paolo Saverio Di Zinno”, which will be inaugurated next Sunday, 19 May, at 6.00 pm in the “Domenico Fratianni” Hall of the Circolo Sannitico in Piazza Gabriele Pepe 30 in Campobasso.
After the inauguration, the exhibition will remain open to the public from 20 to 25 May from 10am to 1pm and from 5pm to 8pm, with free admission.
At the same time, the publication of the catalog “Domenico Fratianni ei Mysteries of Paolo Saverio Di Zinno” will be presented, a special tribute to the engraver Fratianni and his artistic interpretation of the Mysteries of Campobasso, to which he returned several times.
In fact, several cycles by the artist from Montagano are shown together for the first time representing the 13 Ingegni designed by Di Zinno in the eighteenth century: the aquatint-etching one from 1971 (the originals of which have been lost and of which the existing reproductions are presented ), the complete one from 1981 – created with the same technique -, the philatelic cancellations issued between 1985 and 1997, the watercolor sketch for the medal of the popular Su & Giù running competition of 2006 and, finally, the complete series of drawings in pen and watercolors on cardboard from 2018. The exhibition itinerary and the catalog follow a chronological criterion and help to appreciate the evolution of Domenico Fratianni’s figurative language over more than half a century of artistic activity.
The exhibition was created in collaboration with the Municipality of Campobasso, the Misteri e Tradizioni Association, the Molisana Philatelic Cultural Association, the Molisani Talents and Artists Association and the Virtus Campobasso sports group.
The catalog contains, in addition to images of the works, an explanatory sheet on the Mysteries and a biographical note on the Master:
- an introduction by the Mayor of Campobasso, Paola Felice, who underlines the indissoluble link between the art of Maestro Fratianni and the traditions of the city;
- a memory of Annalisa Fratianni, the artist’s daughter, who recounts her personal experience with her father, describing how he taught her to look for beauty and wonder in everyday life;
- a short essay by Francesco D’Episcopo on the importance and impact of Domenico Fratianni’s works inspired by the Mysteries of Campobasso, highlighting the profound connection between the artist, the city and local traditions.
Fratianni, with his extraordinary creative energy, managed to capture the authenticity and intrinsic value of this popular rite, transmitting the richness and depth of the Mysteries of Campobasso through drawing and color.
