Luigi Bartolini

Luigi Bartolini was a painter, writer and poet. In Roma, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts, the Accademia di Spagna and university courses in letters and medicine. In 1914 he exhibited his first etchings. At about the same time he also started to write verses. As a painter he created mainly etchings, but also wrote over 70 books. After serving in World War I he resumed his artistic work. In 1935, he won the award for the best etching at that year’s Roma Quadrennial. After World War II his works displayed a resemblance to expressionist graphics. His paintings are characterized by broad brushstrokes and thick warm colors. His novel “Bicycle Thieves” was filmed by Vittorio de Sica and is considered one of the greatest films ever made. Bartolini was also an opponent of the Fascist dictatorship in Italy before World War II. In 1933 he was arrested for political reasons, and after one month in prison he went to Merano, where he remained until 1938.

The Fisherman is actually a “freshwater fisherman” (Pescatore d’acqua dolce), and is 31.5 x 24.5 cm in size. His Cyclist may be the Girl on a bicycle (Ragazza in bicicletta), dated 1939. This smaller etching measures 22 x 13 cm. One of his paintings on the subject of rowing was Rowers on the Tiber (Canottieri sul tevere) in mixed media on paper on cardboard.