An exhibition in Ravenna to discover the graphic art of Cafiero Tuti

From Oct. 22 to Nov. 8, 2024, the Classense Library in Ravenna (Via Alfredo Baccarini 3) in the Manica Lunga Room is hosting The Graphics of Cafiero Tuti (1907-1958): from Strapaese to the Postwar period, curated by Flaminio Gualdoni and Francesco Mele. The exhibition, which enjoys the patronage of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Bologna, the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ravenna and realized in collaboration with the Classense Library Institution, is an opportunity to rediscover the work of Cafiero Tuti (Empoli, 1907 - Ravenna, 1958) starting from his graphic production, considered the fil rouge that connects, within his artistic history, very diversified experiences, the result of a constant practice proudly linked to a direct and essential language.

Born in the artistic climate linked to Strapaese, who devoted himself to more openly celebratory forms in the field of mosaic production, with his solo exhibition of engravings at Galleria Sandri in Venice in 1949 Tuti reknotted the threads of a discourse undertaken in the immediate postwar period around a calm figuration, substantiated by lyrical accents, which would accompany him until the last years of his life. The exhibition brings together about 40 graphic works made between 1930 and 1955: etchings, drawings, and watercolors, which have as their subject the figure and landscape, and which record the evolution of the artist’s sign language and his maturation.

The author’s path traverses the main artistic movements of the 20th century, never abandoning, however, his own fruitful connection with the province. It is no coincidence that the exhibition takes place precisely in Ravenna, where Tuti moved starting in the 1930s and where he established himself as an esteemed professor of decoration and director of the Mosaic School at the Academy for more than two decades (1932-1958).

The realization of this exhibition constitutes a new stage in the path of rediscovery and re-evaluation of the artist, strongly desired by his nephew, Luca Baruzzi, and undertaken a few years ago thanks to the aegis of Francesco Mele, who has long been involved in the study of the author’s rich production, carrying out a careful work of preservation and bio-bibliographical reconstruction. The exhibition is also accompanied by the volume Cafiero Tuti (1907-1958). Catalog of Works, published by Danilo Montanari Editore, with an essay by Flaminio Gualdoni and critical texts by Mele himself. The catalog is a useful compendium to fully understand and frame Tuti’s parable in the twentieth century, a century dense with fundamental events, both historical and artistic, and will collect a representative selection of works (some of those in the exhibition and others including oil paintings, drawings, watercolors and etchings).

Cafiero Tuti was born in Empoli on March 17, 1907. He is the son of Dante Tuti, a renowned master glassmaker, and Raimonda Masoni. In 1923 he enrolled at the Florence Art Institute, attending for three years the decorative wall painting section directed by Giuseppe Lunardi. After the two-year Magistero course, he obtained his teaching certificate in the same institute in 1928.

During his training period, the young man comes into contact with the Florentine artistic environment, rich in stimuli and new visions. He makes friends, among many others, with artists such as Ardengo Soffici, Ottone Rosai and Mino Maccari.

And it was thanks to Maccari that he began to collaborate with the magazine Il Selvaggio, publishing four woodcuts in 1928 that introduced him to the general public. Also from the same year is his participation in a major exhibition, the First Circuit Art Exhibition of Empoli, which led him to exhibit some paintings and graphic works that attracted the attention of critics.

After teaching ornate and professional drawing at the School of Wood Art in Cascina(Pisa), in 1932 he obtained a new assignment to teach ornate drawing at the Professional School for Alabaster in Volterra. In the same year he obtained the chair of decoration by winning the competition announced by theAcademy of Fine Arts in Ravenna, where he was entrusted with the artistic direction of the Mosaic School. Under Cafiero Tuti’s guidance some of the most important Ravenna mosaic artists of the first generation were trained, including Renato Signorini, Ines Morigi Berti and Walter Focaccia.

By winning in 1932 the black and white prize at the Interprovincial Art Exhibition in Rimini Tuti confirmed his appreciation of the Romagnolo context, and again the critics attested to his important recognition. Some of these engravings went on to enrich the pages of the magazines Il Rubicone and L’Universale, and three were presented at the First Exhibition of Modern Italian Engraving in Florence, garnering critical acclaim. In 1934, at the invitation of critic Giovanni Scheiwiller, he took part in the “black and white” exhibition held at the Kunstverein in St. Gallen. Artists such as Carrà, Manzù, Morandi, Rosai and Soffici participated in the exhibition, which was later remounted in Bern.

After exhibiting in shows held between Ravenna and Empoli, the Rome Quadriennale of 1935 and especially the Milan Triennale of 1936 presented themselves as new opportunities for affirmation. At the latter, the Ministry of War buys the large mosaic L’Italia armata made by Ravenna mosaicists based on the master’s cartoon. He also participated in the 20th Venice Biennale with the fresco The Welfare Works, a masterpiece of his production in the field of painting. In the same year, following his participation in the 5th Interprovincial Art Exhibition in Bologna, the Fascist Syndicate of Emilia-Romagna purchased one of his still lifes made in mosaic, while in 1937 he made a portrait of Victor Emmanuel III on commission from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In 1938 he participated again in the Venice Biennial, exhibiting the fresco Le ricerche, which was judged favorably. Exhibitions in various provincial reviews continued during these years, adding to some major occasions where he participated with the Ravenna School of Decoration by making cartoons for some mosaic panels. In 1939 he won an award for the graphic works presented at the VII Interprovincial Art Exhibition in Faenza, while in 1941 he published drawings in the Roman magazine Lettere D’Oggi, which included writings by, among others, Cesare Pavese.

Following the period he spent as a lieutenant in Libya, Tuti’s artistic activity shifted in the direction of Bologna, where he formed friendships with some of the protagonists of the city’s culture: Pompilio Mandelli, Luciano Minguzzi and Ilario Rossi. Also in 1941 he took part in the exhibition presented by Francesco Arcangeli.

After fulfilling his military obligations, Tuti participated, in 1947, in the New York exhibition Handcraft as a fine art in Italy organized by Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti, which brought together numerous protagonists of the art scene of the time, from Campigli to De Pisis, from Fontana to Guttuso and Morandi. The following year he held his first solo show at Galleria Sandri in Venice, where he exhibited 45 works from the graphic repertoire of that period. Two puntesecche were selected and exhibited at the XXIV Venice Biennale, an edition remembered for the presence of Peggy Guggenheim’s collection.

The last decade of activity saw Tuti involved in many important exhibition events: from the 1950 Venice Biennale, where he participated with three etchings, to the Florentine exhibition Mezzo secolo d’arte toscana in 1952. Also noteworthy are the two one-man shows held at the Circolo della cultura in Bologna (1952/1956), the prizes obtained in Cervia, Cesenatico and Perugia in 1954 and Ravenna in 1955 (Diploma d’onore and Premio della Presidenza del Consiglio). In 1956 he exhibited three still lifes at the 18th Venice Biennale, and in 1957 the drypoint Le Grazie was published in the Dizionario Illustrato dei Pittori, Disegnatori e Incisori Italiani Moderni e Contemporanei.

A large series of exhibitions closed the activity of Cafiero Tuti, who died in Ravenna in the summer of 1958 from an incurable disease. His hometown, Empoli, dedicated two retrospective exhibitions to Tuti in 1967 and 1987. Ravenna also paid homage to the artist by exhibiting some of his works at the exhibition I vecchi maestri ravennati in 1973 and at the exhibition La Pittura in Romagna dalla seconda metà dell’Ottocento ad oggi in 1974. In 1980 his brother Tuto Tuti donated 20 graphic works by the artist to the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. Among them, a portrait is included in the volume Gabinetti disegni e stampe degli Uffizi. Ten years of acquisitions 1974-1984.

For all information, you can call +39 0544 482112 or send an email to informazioni@classense.ra.it.

Pictured: Cafiero Tuti, Ravenna (c. 1938-1945), watercolor, 18x32 cm. Tuti-Baruzzi Collection, Ravenna

An exhibition in Ravenna to discover the graphic art of Cafiero Tuti

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