Salvatore Fiume (1915-1997) - Casualità Archeologiche

Salvatore Fiume - Archaeological Casualities - Lithograph on paper - 1980s

DETAILS OF THE WORK

Artist: Salvatore Fiume (Italy)

Title of the work: "Casualità archeologiche" → in English: "Archaeological Casualties" (title kept as in original with Italian spelling?)
Era: 1980s
Technique and materials: Lithography on paper
Dimensions: 50 x 70 cm.
Edition: XXXIX/L
Signature: Signed bottom right, in pencil
Dry stamp: Present. Dry stamp of the Studio Salvatore Fiume
Condition: Excellent. Sheet flawless, untouched. Full margins. Never framed

provenance

The work boasts prestigious and documented provenance (Arte Sant’Erasmo, Milan). Our Gallery has collaborated directly and closely with Master Fiume for over 20 years, organizing two of his solo exhibitions, and has handled his work for decades. This deep knowledge of the artist, combined with official publication in the General Catalogue (Volume II) and the presence of the studio dry stamp on the sheet, guarantees absolute authenticity and high collecting value of this lithograph, which has come to us in a conservational state worthy of a museum archive.

DOCUMENTATION

Documentation: Certificate of authenticity prepared by Galleria d'Arte Piero Della Francesca, Arezzo. Photocopy of the publication.

Exhibitions: Grafica d'autore-Selected - Galleria d'Arte Piero Della Francesca, Arezzo, March 2025.

Publications: Catalog of the exhibition "Grafica d'Autore-Selected", Edizioni Galleria d'Arte Piero Della Francesca, 2025. It should be noted that the original catalog is NOT included in the sale. Only the PHOTOCOPY will be attached.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK

We propose at auction a refined lithograph from the 1980s signed by Salvatore Fiume, one of the most celebrated, eclectic, and visionary masters of 20th-century Italy.

The work, titled "Casualità archeologiche" (Archaeological Casualities), embodies the fascinating and unmistakable poetic of the artist, always aimed at reclaiming myth, classicality, and ancient history through a modern, highly impactful stylistic approach. Architectural fragments, broken columns, artifacts and solitary figures rise in an atmosphere suspended between metaphysical and dreamlike, where the graphic line and color application achieve an impeccable formal balance.

This is a work of the highest collectible quality, enriched by its regular publication in the artist's general catalog, ideal for enriching a collection devoted to great author graphics and Italian painting of the second half of the 20th century.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES AND CRITICS ON THE ARTIST

Salvatore Fiume (Comiso, 1915 – Milan, 1997) was an Italian painter, sculptor, architect, writer, and stage designer, a figure of extraordinary importance and vast visual culture. From a very young age he moved to Milan and Monza, where he attended ISIA, forging connections with the major intellectuals of the time. An internationally renowned painter, his fame took a decisive turn in 1949 when he exhibited at the Venice Biennale a series of paintings inspired by the "Cities that walk" and the ruins of classical antiquity, works that deeply impressed critics and the public.

His production ranges from monumental painting—famous for large decorative cycles created, among others, for the Palazzo della Permanente in Milan and for the Villa d'Este hotel in Cernobbio—to graphics, sculpture, and scenography (notable collaborations with La Scala in Milan). In 1962 a monumental retrospective was dedicated to him at the Museo d'Arte Moderna in Milan (Palazzo Reale) and subsequently at museums around the world.

Fiume's stylistic approach is nourished by a highly personal reinterpretation of the history of art, from Renaissance Tuscany to metaphysical painting, blending strict compositional discipline with a lyrical and visionary imagination. His works are part of the permanent collections of the world's most important museums (from the Vatican to the Hermitage in St. Petersburg) and represent a reliable value for collectors across the international scene.

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Packaging: We guarantee professional, rigid, and custom-reinforced packing designed to preserve the complete integrity of the paper and sheet during transit, protected from impacts and humidity.

Courier: Tracked, fast, and secure shipment via express courier. To guarantee the customer’s total protection, shipment insurance is mandatory for this item.

Customs and Export (Extra-EU): Any customs duties are the buyer's responsibility.

invoicing: Professional seller. The work will be accompanied by a fiscal receipt (or electronic invoice, available upon request by sending your details at the time of auction of the lot).