Giovanni Stradone

Painter Giovanni Stradone earned the silver medal at the 1948 Art Competitions in London for his work Il ciclista in pista (Cyclist on the Track) in the category Paintings. He was a noted typical Italian expressionist, but sent in several rather neo-cubist works depicting track cycling, and Fausto Coppi in particular. Stradone was an avid cyclist himself. Later his style showed an increasing degree of abstraction, eventually only reflecting moods and feelings.

As a youngster living in Rome, he often went to the Borghese Museum, copying the works of old masters like Raphael. After graduating from high school, he studied law following his parents’ wishes but never worked in this field. At the same time he also developed a keen interest in entomology. Initially, he belonged to the so-called “Roman School” before he had his breakthrough in the 1940s as an expressionist. In 1950 he created a scandal by exhibiting his painting “L’apoteosi di Bartali”, another famous Italian cyclist, at the Biennale in Venezia. Later, he was rediscovered as a member of the “Roman School”. His last major exhibitions were held in between 1978 and 1981, shortly before his sudden death.

The successful oil painting is shown in the catalog of art competitions. Therefore, there is no doubt about its identity, although on the official website of the artist, his family states that the 1948 neo-cubist work Coppi in Pista was the one awarded silver in the art competitions. Another entry was the pen and wash drawing Cyclist, which is also represented in the catalog. A line drawing with the same title could not be identified.