Galleria Nazionale
by Bruno Cosignani
Bruno Cosignani established a name for himself in the world of art as early as 1973, when he started his first art gallery in the Versilia, the Galleria Internazionale of Viareggio (LU). Cosignani started the gallery “Il Mercadante” of Levanto, just around the corner from Cinque Terre. In 2003, Cosignani started the Galleria Nazionale in 2003 in the ancient Etruscan town of Cortona. The gallery is housed within the Palazzo Alticozzi and is run by his son Gianmaria. Cortona is internationally renowned for its artistic and cultural heritage and the gallery is located on Via Nazionale, the main street of the town. This is the third art gallery established by the Cosignani family after those located in Viareggio, Versilia and Levanto, in the Cinque Terre area.
The Palazzo Alticozzi owes its name to the Alticozzi family. In the 15th century, the family altered the medieval layout of the building by consolidating previous dwellings. The current façade dates back to the first half of the 16th century. The coat of arms appearing on the façade depicts ox heads and attests to the noble status of the ancient lineage of the Alticozzi family (the lineage has since died out). The gallery is housed within the area opening out onto the street, which was anciently taken up by the loggia. The inner rooms were used as state rooms, which have been recently restored to retain the original liberty frescoes. These ancient walls now house the beautiful works collected over many years by the Cosignani family.
Feature Artist
Giuseppe Linardi
Let’s immerse ourselves in Giuseppe Linardi’s older works, rare and unobtainable pearls that represent the starting point of a journey that has undergone notable changes over the years.
From the Hellenistic era to the twenty-first century, still life has been an essential element for artists of every era. In the context of the new millennium, still life continues to evolve. An emblematic example of this metamorphosis is represented by the contemporary artist Giuseppe Linardi, who abandoned every form of decoration, focusing attention on the pure essence of the subject, in particular on simple fruit.
His work stands out for its ability to capture the essentiality of the objects represented, inspired, in a certain sense, by the vibrant and bold interpretation of Paul Cézanne Linardi strips the composition of every superfluous element, focusing on the intrinsic beauty of the still life in suggestive way.
Riccardo Gai
Roberto Gai arrives at the National Gallery of Cortona, the Tuscan artist of extraordinary talent, who managed to capture the sublime beauty of the Tuscan countryside, transforming enchanting landscapes, fields of poppies and sunflowers and old farmhouses at sunset into works of art that exude a message of inner tranquility.
A passionate self-taught, Gai has developed a simple and effective painting style, guided by his fortitude, instinct and unique sensitivity. While maintaining a link with the “post-macchia” movement of Tuscan Impressionism, the artist relentlessly engages in the search for new elements, exploring angles, lights and shadows to create uniform paintings that capture the essence of his vision.
His dedication to art is reflected in his transposition of inner poetry through colors. The campaign, represented with passion and involvement, becomes the canvas on which he paints his vision, with “Nature” as a constant guide in his creative path. Gai considers painting not only an artistic discipline, but a real life and love.