In the name of Cambellotti. Virgilio Retrosi artist and craftsman

The exhibition In the sign of Cambellotti. Virgilio Retrosi artist and craftsman curated by Gloria Raimondi and Gaia Dammacco, hosted in the Dependence of the Casina delle Civette of Villa Torlonia, was born as part of the initiatives of the Capitoline Superintendency aimed at valorising the rich heritage of its collections and intends to present to the general public the figure of an artist who dedicated his life to the applied arts. The core of the exhibition is in fact centered on the considerable corpus of ceramic plates depicting the districts of Rome present in the collections of the Museum of Rome and benefits from the collaboration of the Duilio Cambellotti Civic Museum of Latina and loans from private collections. An interesting part of the exhibition is dedicated to Retrosi's relationship with his teacher Duilio Cambellotti, who inspired him for his versatility, love for tradition and creative flair in the various sectors of applied arts.

Duilio Cambellotti’s disciple and friend, Virgilio Retrosi (Rome 1892-1975), made his debut in 1911 on the occasion of the International Exhibition of Rome for the fiftieth anniversary of the Unification of Italy by exhibiting, at Cambellotti's invitation, some painted terracotta vases. In the years surrounding the First World War he taught at the School of Applied Arts in Rome, founded and directed by Duilio Cambellotti. During his long career, in addition to his activity as a ceramist and decorator, Retrosi dedicated himself to applied graphics, creating sketches for stamps, posters and postcards, starting a collaboration with ENIT (Italian National Tourism Board) which lasted from the mid-thirties through the sixties.

The exhibition project is promoted and created by Roma Capitale, Department of Culture - Capitoline Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

Photo credits: official poster of the exhibition