Adolfo De Carolis (1874-1928) - Il Varo, 1908

Xylography in two woodblocks, dimensions: mm 221 x 353 mm 490 x 320 Painter, engraver and Italian illustrator. He initially trained in Bologna at the Academy of Fine Arts and once he obtained the diploma, in 1892 he moved to Rome. There he met the poet Nino Costa, founder of the cenacle In arte libertas, which proposed a renewal of art through the rediscovery of the greats of the Quattrocento following the example of the Pre-Raphaelites. De Carolis thus began to frequent this group and became a member, starting to create paintings of pre-Raphaelite imprint. In 1900 he met the poet Giovanni Pascoli for whom he designs and executes a silver pommel and the plaque for the cane, a gift from friends of the Florentine magazine Marzocco, and then begins to take care of the graphic decoration of some publications of the poet. This collaboration proves important in the artistic production between 1892 and 1928, because the works of this period deal with rural and marine landscapes that reflect Pascolian intonation. In 1901 De Carolis leaves Rome for Florence, where he teaches ornament in the Academy of Fine Arts, dedicating himself to xylography. This technique will be very dear to him and he will be the first in Italy to revive the ancient technique of polychrome xylography with multiple woodblocks. Numerous will be the individual sheets or illustrations for various magazines and for the works of his friend D'Annunzio. This print is drawn from the series dedicated to life at sea, composed of six sheets. A subject very felt by the artist for whom he produced not only several sketches but also many photographs. In this sheet, through green and yellow inks on a white background, a boat and several men are depicted. In the foreground on the left, two full-length men who, with great force, with the muscles of the body taut, aided by two other portraits bent over, pull on ropes. In the background, however, a large vessel is about to sail away, indeed being carried to sea by men posed in various positions, who push and pull on ropes, to make Ausonia, the ship's name inscribed on the flank, slash the waters of the Adriatic. Ausonia is the name Latin poets gave to all of Italy after the Roman conquest (4th century BC), and in an article published in the Rivista marchigiana illustrata, De Carolis compares the strength and audacity of the fishermen of San Benedetto with the Homeric sailors. In the background the vast sea to the horizon and the coast. Excellent impression on smooth ivory paper. Excellent state of preservation. Wide margins beyond the plate edge.

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