Luigi Servolini, The peppers, color xylograph, 1938

Luigi Servolini, The peppers, color xylograph, 1938 2

Luigi Servolini, The peppers, color xylograph, 1938 3

Luigi Servolini, The peppers, color xylograph, 1938 4

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Ten-wood color xylograph "The peppers" made by Luigi Servolini (Livorno, 1906 - Livorno, 1981) in 1938. Woodcut writer, journalist, art critic, teacher, Luigi trained with his father Carlo Servolini (Livorno, 1876 - Collesalvetti, 1948), etcher, painter and drawing teacher. From a very young age he distinguished himself for his talents so much that he won the first painting prize at the National Exhibition of Children's Art in Pistoia in 1920. He enrolled in the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy in Pisa, graduating with a thesis on Ugo da Carpi. He continues to be self-taught to be interested in art in particular wood engraving. The assiduous practice led him to exhibit regularly and to publish in 1928 "The original xylography in Italy", a volume published in Turin and dedicated to contemporary xylographers and the re-evaluation of this technique, during his life he published dozens of articles and volumes related to ancient and contemporary woodcut. He holds numerous public positions in libraries, cultural institutes, schools and universities (Urbino, Forlì, Milan, Livorno, Pisa, Rome). In 1936 he founded with Giulio Ferrari the Museum of Italian Xylography in the Castello dei Pio in Carpi. There are numerous woodcuts that he engraves, all characterized by remarkable technical skill, evident capacity for spatial synthesis, chromatic harmony and vibrant chiaroscuro. In the sheet we see a lively still life. Several peppers are placed on a platter; some fall from this to rest on a light blue tablecloth next to an enamelled coffee pot. The background is left dark and stark. The signature is engraved in the upper right corner. The author knows how to transform the crude and flat sign of the woodcut into a composition of bright colors and almost tangible due to the material depth of the volumes. The technique requires a matrix for each color which not only the engraver must be able to carve correctly, but also the printer must be able to print without superimposing the colours. This sheet is therefore the result of considerable skill. Under the image there is an autograph inscription in pen: "I peperoni (xilografia orig. = dieci tavole) antilett.; Al dott Fabrizio Agrelli con stima sincera Servolini, 1960; Luigi Servolini". Fresh impression on light opaque white paper, good margins over the subject. Traces of old assembly, otherwise perfect state of conservation. Another specimen is kept at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Bibliography: L. Servolini, Dizionario illustrato degli incisori italiani moderni e contemporanei, Gòlrlich editore, Milano.

ID: 11318-1684228293-63870