Aldo Carpi
Encyclopedia
Aldo Carpi was an Italian
artist, painter and writer, author of a collection of memoirs concerning his imprisonment in the infamous Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
.
, early in his youth he started studying fine arts under the tutelage of Stefano Bersani. In 1906 he joined the noted Brera Academy
, where he met some of the most renowned Italian painters of the epoch, including Giuseppe Mentessi, Carlo Cattaneo, Cesare Tallone
, as well as Achille Funi
, Emilio Gola
and Carlo Carrà
. The following year he appeared at the Brera
art exhibition, which was followed by his appearance at the 1912 Venice Biennale
. Since then he participated in every Venetian Biennale excepting those held in 1940, 1950 and 1952.
Drafted into the Italian Army
in 1915, he served at various fronts of the Great War
. In 1917 he married Maria Arpesani. In the 1920s, Carpi developed the style of his paintings and landscapes under the influence of Italian 19th century painters. For his works in 1925 he was awarded with the prestigious Premio Principe Umberto. In 1927 he became the author of new frescoes in the San Simpliciano Basilica in Milan. In 1930 he became the professor and deacon of the faculty of painting at his alma mater
. In 1934 he also prepared a project for the new stained glass
windows in the famous Duomo of Milan, which however was not completed until after the World War II
. In 1937 he appeared at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne
in Paris
, where he was awarded a bronze medal.
In January 1944, during the World War II, he was arrested after a colleague informed on him, and was imprisoned in the concentration camp Gusen
I of the Mauthausen-Gusen system, where he kept a diary and made a number of sketches portraying life and death in the camp. Liberated at the end of the war, he returned to Milan, where in 1956 he was awarded the state prize for his works and cultural merits. He also became the rector of his alma mater. In 1972 he prepared one of his last major works, a large monographic exhibition of his works.
He died in 1973 in Milan.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
artist, painter and writer, author of a collection of memoirs concerning his imprisonment in the infamous Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen Concentration Camp grew to become a large group of Nazi concentration camps that was built around the villages of Mauthausen and Gusen in Upper Austria, roughly east of the city of Linz.Initially a single camp at Mauthausen, it expanded over time and by the summer of 1940, the...
.
Biography
Born in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, early in his youth he started studying fine arts under the tutelage of Stefano Bersani. In 1906 he joined the noted Brera Academy
Brera Academy
The Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, also known as Brera Academy is a public academic institution located in Milan, Italy. It was founded in 1776 by HIM Maria Theresa of Austria.- Overview :...
, where he met some of the most renowned Italian painters of the epoch, including Giuseppe Mentessi, Carlo Cattaneo, Cesare Tallone
Cesare Tallone
Cesare Tallone was an Italian painter.-Biography:After losing his father at the age of ten, Cesare Tallone moved with his mother and sisters to Alessandria, where he became a pupil of the decorative artist Pietro Sassi. Some members of the local bourgeoisie commissioned the first portraits from...
, as well as Achille Funi
Achille Funi
Achille Funi was an Italian painter.-Biography:Funi studied at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts from 1906 to 1910 and joined the Nuove Tendenze movement as a painter of Cubo-Futurist works in 1914. Having enlisted in the Volunteer Cyclist Battalion and served in World War II, he became a champion of...
, Emilio Gola
Emilio Gola
Emilio Gola was an Italian painter.-Biography:Born into a noble family, Gola was encouraged to develop his interest in art in his adolescence by his father, a dilettante painter. He graduated in industrial engineering from the Milan Polytechnic in 1873 and devoted himself to painting under the...
and Carlo Carrà
Carlo Carrà
Carlo Carrà was an Italian painter, a leading figure of the Futurist movement that flourished in Italy during the beginning of the 20th century. In addition to his many paintings, he wrote a number of books concerning art. He taught for many years in the city of Milan.-Biography:Carrà was born in...
. The following year he appeared at the Brera
Brera
Brera is a district of Milan, ItalyBrera may also refer to:* the Palazzo Brera, a historical building in Brera; the palace also houses:** the Brera Art Academy** the Brera Art Gallery** the Brera Astronomical Observatory...
art exhibition, which was followed by his appearance at the 1912 Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. Since then he participated in every Venetian Biennale excepting those held in 1940, 1950 and 1952.
Drafted into the Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
in 1915, he served at various fronts of the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1917 he married Maria Arpesani. In the 1920s, Carpi developed the style of his paintings and landscapes under the influence of Italian 19th century painters. For his works in 1925 he was awarded with the prestigious Premio Principe Umberto. In 1927 he became the author of new frescoes in the San Simpliciano Basilica in Milan. In 1930 he became the professor and deacon of the faculty of painting at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
. In 1934 he also prepared a project for the new stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows in the famous Duomo of Milan, which however was not completed until after the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1937 he appeared at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937)
The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne was held from May 25 to November 25, 1937 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he was awarded a bronze medal.
In January 1944, during the World War II, he was arrested after a colleague informed on him, and was imprisoned in the concentration camp Gusen
Gusen
Gusen is the name of the biggest and most brutal Nazi concentration camp complex on Austrian territory. Originally called "Mauthausen II", the camp consisted of three camps and toward the end of the war, was annexed to Mauthausen concentration camp...
I of the Mauthausen-Gusen system, where he kept a diary and made a number of sketches portraying life and death in the camp. Liberated at the end of the war, he returned to Milan, where in 1956 he was awarded the state prize for his works and cultural merits. He also became the rector of his alma mater. In 1972 he prepared one of his last major works, a large monographic exhibition of his works.
He died in 1973 in Milan.