Friend and student of Duilio Cambellotti, Virgilio Retrosi made his debut in 1911 as a ceramist, exhibiting at the Mostra dell'Agro Romano as part of the International Exhibition for the celebration of the unification of the Kingdom of Italy and the proclamation of Rome as the Capital. Simultaneously with his activity as a ceramist and decorator, Retrosi dedicated himself to applied graphics, creating sketches for stamps, posters and postcards and starting a fruitful collaboration with the Italian National Tourist Board, a commitment which absorbed him completely as a graphic designer and photographer from the middle of 1930s to 1960s. This exhibition set up in the Casina delle Civette of Villa Torlonia presents to the public a wide range of artworks by Retrosi made in ceramic, such as the series of splendid plates with animal, mythological or vegetal themes. In addition to his work as a ceramist, the exhibition also presents colorful tiles, pottery, woodcuts and etchings with Roman views, and samples of advertising graphics to offer a complete picture of this Roman artist who was an active witness to the Italian social and artistic life of the mid-twentieth century.
Within the history of the lapidary arts, the so-called “CABOCHON” cut is considered one of the oldest techniques of cutting gems.
Appreciated since Antiquity, this technique was practiced by craftsmen from China to the Mediterranean basin, via India, because it highlighted the color of the gemstones.
The CABOCHON cut became a signature of ...