I “PRIMITIVI” E L’ARTE ITALIANA TRA LE DUE GUERRE: IL PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA DI ROBERTO LONGHI COME PRATICA DI DIALOGO TRA ARTE E CRITICA

Abstract

This paper illustrates the productive exchange evident in the Twenties and
Thirties between art criticism published by painters in journals (in particular
the Roman journal Valori Plastici), the renewed interest in criticism from the
most illustrious art historians (Longhi and Venturi) and the rethinking of
modern art in the light of the rediscovery of historical canons. The works of
Carlo Carrà, Giorgio de Chirico and Alberto Savinio are taken into account
but the focus is on the essay by the young Roberto Longhi dedicated to Piero
della Francesca published in 1927 as an example of how an original historical
rereading can push contemporary art forward. This publication, which
delineated the complex aspects of the painter’s creative sources, had an
immense influence on inter-war Italian art, influencing artists like Felice
Casorati, Massimo Campigli, Achille Funi, Mario Tozzi, Ferruccio Ferrazzi and
Roberto Melli.