Naïve Art: The Naïve Art of Italy

The naïve art of Italy arose in the Po River region in the first third of the twentieth century. With the passage of time, Italian naivism gradually appeared in Umbria, Lombardy, Torino, Sicily and Sardinia. The Italian naives idealize their local regions, mixing poetic fancy with reverent, earthy depictions of everyday life. Although these artists' styles range from refined and elegant; measured and realistic; dreamy and idyllic; lyrical and delicate; chromatic and heartwarming; they invariably reflect a love of the Italian village, countryside and common folk.

The vistas presented by the Florentine, Cesare Novi, combine mystery and humor, exposing the bodies of pink women bathing or men enveloped by the forest, leaving behind suspiciously-forgotten objects.

Cesare Novi. Mystery by the Riverbank – 1992, Oil & Carand, 40x50cm.

Cesare Novi. The Bathers – 2007, oil & Carand, 40x50cm.

Cesare Novi. Harvesting Chestnuts – 2008, oil & pastel on board, 40x50cm.

Giovanni Galli's shades of blues and purples enchant our eyes with idyllic panoramas.

Giovanni Galli. Pathway Through the Woods – 2007, oil on canvas, 30x40cm.

Giovanni Galli. The Buds of Spring – 1998, oil on canvas, 50x70cm.

Giovanni Galli. Sunset Over the Countryside – 2007, oil on canvas, 30x40cm.

Luciano Prandini portrays the typical Italian lawn party beside the chiseled cobblestone sidewalk, as well as the limpid landscapes of the Ligure Riviera.

Luciano Prandini. My Uncle’s Wedding – 1999, oil on canvas, 80x120cm.

Luciano Prandini. The Porticos of Martiri Plaza – 2002, oil on board, 20x81cm.

In his paintings, Cesare Marchesini depicts scenes evoking the ambiance of Tuscany; grape stomping at Chianti's purple vineyards, gathering golden wheat from sun-drenched fields or harvesting green olives from steep-sloped groves.

Cesare Marchesini. The Four Seasons – Summer – 1996, oil on canvas, 40x40cm.

Cesare Marchesini. Pressing the Grapes – 2007, oil on canvas, 50x69cm.

Cesare Marchesini. Springtime in Tuscany – 2006, oil on canvas, 60x79cm.

Due to the mixture of bright colors in Aquilina Smareglia's work, mystery becomes exotic, with her images transporting us to distant bazaars and country weddings.

Aquilina Smareglia. Hungarian Gipsy Wedding – 2005, acrylic on canvas, 41x50cm.

Aquilina Smareglia. The Bazaar of Marakesh – 2006, acrylic on canvas, 40x50cm.

Guido Vedovato's paintings are filled with fantasy, characterized by the use of dark oranges and blues, and stylized figures wandering the gnarled landscape.

Guido Vedovato. Romeo and Juliet – 2007, oil on canvas, 60x50cm.

The paintings by Franco Mora, with their playful look, full bright colors and humoristic approach, return us to the joys of childhood.

Franco Mora. Everyone Arrives Home – 2007, acrylic on canvas, 50x60cm.

Alessandra Puppo's landscape of Mediterranean colors present small port cities crowded with people, well-dressed ladies and mustachioed gentlemen.

Alessandra Puppo. Fried Fish – 2007, oil on canvas, 50x70cm.

Alessandra Puppo. The Railway Station – 1981, oil on canvas, 40x50cm.

Alessandra Puppo. Autumn – 2006, oil on canvas, 50x40cm.

Giuliano Zoppi offers us close encounters with dukes and magicians in the pastoral twilight.

Giuliano Zoppi. The Entertainment Troop – 2005, oil on board, 29x23cm.

Francesco Maiolo presents the evolution of the seasons by dimming the light in his landscapes: the small human figure is set alongside the twining roads amidst orange-brown trees of fall and the pink and white leaves of the blossoming spring.