Informalism
Informalism is a pictorial movement born in the ‘40. It developed concurrently with the american abstract expressionism with which it shares unrecognizable shapes, hence the name “informalism”, without a shape or form. The movement is mainly a pictorial one but Edoardo Alfieri expressed it through sculpting, with complex bronze and chalk statues characterized by dynamic interweaving.
From past deeds come happiness sorrow (1956)
From past deeds come happiness and sorrow
1956
Bronze, Lost wax casting
25x87cm
Foundry:
Belfiore Pietrasanta (Lu), 3 castings in 1979.
Owners:
Owners: 1 Alfieri-Maisano Archive / 1 Private collector / 1 Private collector
Photo:
Mario Buffoni Ge , Alfieri-Maisano Archive.
Exhibits:
1978 “Il Nuovo Fanale” gallery Ge / 1994 gift to Edoardo Alfieri, Friends in Albaro Ge
Sketch with Architrave (1960)
Sculpture with architrave
1960
Bronze, Lost wax casting
20x17cm
Foundry:
Versiliese Pietrasanta (lu)
3 castings in 1997
Owners:
owners: 2 Alfieri-Maisano archive / 1 private collector
Photo:
Mario Buffoni Ge , Archivio Alfieri-Maisano
Exhibits:
1978 “Il Nuovo Fanale” gallery Ge / 1994 Gift to Edoardo Alfieri, Friends in Albaro Ge
The picture of this bronze was published in the four-monthly magazine “La Casana” N 3, page 50, year LVIII, in the article by Daniela Lunghi “Edoardo Alfieri, eclectic witness of 20th century sculpture“.
NOTE: This sketch it’s the preparatory study for an early artwork that was never finished and then destroyed, but it inspired “Monument to Mameli” and “Return to the Verb” in 1961
Metamorphosis (1961-1962)
Metamorphosis
1961-1962
High-relief in terracotta semirefractory
90x104cm
Unique piece
Photo:
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Donated from the Alfieri-Maisano archive to the Ceramic Museum in Savona on September 17, 2021.
Metamorphosis is an artwork commissioned by Pulitzer.
This commission was given in the ’50. It should have been placed in a place designed by the architect. This terracotta has never been delivered and has never been dismantled.
Study for a gate (1960)
Study for a gate
1960
Bronze, Lost wax casting
24x47x8cm
Unique piece.
Foundry:
Versiliese Pietrasanta (Lu)
1 casting in 1983
owner:
Unique pierce in the Alfieri-Maisano archive collection.
Photo:
Mario Buffoni Ge , Alfieri-Maisano archive
Modeled straight in wax, there is no plaster model.
Gate for the Lovers Grave (1961)
Gate for the Lovers grave
1961
Bronze casting, Lost wax casting
Unique piece
Photo:
Alfieri-Maisano Archive.
Foundry:
Oreste Brustolin Verona – casted in 1961
This was the gate for the Lovers grave in Staglieno, it was removed.
“Return to the verb”, Monument to Mameli (1961-1962)
Return to the Verb, Monument to Mameli
1961-1962
Bronze and Lost wax casting
100×100 cm
Unique piece
Photo:
Achille Grassi GE
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Sculpture donated by the Archive to the Academy of Fine Arts Museum.
The artwork since 2008/2009 at the Academy of Fine Arts Museum, in permanent exhibition.
Bibliography: “Edoardo Alfieri scultore del Novecento 1913 – 1998, una donazione per Genova” written by Matteo Fochessati and Maria Flora Giubilei, Maschietto editore , Florence 1998.
Alfieri thought in 1959 some sketches for the Monument and it was intended for a flowerbed in Corvetto Square in Genoa. This sculpture was among the artist’s favorites and he wished it to be casted in bronze eventually. It was casted after his death in 1998. The plaster model was destroyed in the process. Before being destroyed, the plaster model of the sculpture was shown in Turin for the “Second Resurgence” exhibit in 1961, and in Genoa at the “Villa Croce” museum in 1998.
Untitled (1962)
Untitled – Assembled Wood
1962
Assembled wood
101x85x18 cm
Unique piece
Photo:
Mario Parodi
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Donated by the Alfieri-Maisano Archive to the GAM in Genoa in 2008.
Bibliography: Anthological catalogue curated by Franco Sborgi, Mazzotta publisher 1998, page 117, N° 78. / Donation catalogue curated by Matteo Fochessati and Maria Flora Giubilei, Maschietto Publisher, Page 93, catalogue N° 21.
Exhibits: 1998 Alfieri anthology: Contemporary art Museum in Genoa / 2008-2009, Gam Genoa, Show: Edoardo Alfieri 20th century sculptor a donation for Genoa.
This art piece while waiting to be shown in 2008 was lent to the “Fondazione Colombo” and stored in the Wolsoniana deposit.
Return to the verb ( from past deeds come happiness and sorrow )
Return to the verb
From past deeds come happiness and sorrow
1963
Bronze and lost wax casting
50x44x13 cm
Unique Piece
Photo:
Achille Grassi, GE, Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Owner:
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Exhibits: 1998 Antology in Villa Croce, Contemporary Art Museum, Genoa a Villa Croce
Bibliografia: Anthological catalogue curated by Franco Sborgi, Mazzotta publisher 1998, page 122, N° 78
*In the catalogue is published the photo of the plaster model but the bronze one was shown in the exhibit.
> Even if this bronze is dated 1963 is contemporary to “Monument to Mameli” (1961-1962).
Aggressive Balance
Aggressive balance
1963
Assembled wood
105x260x19cm
Unique piece
Photo:
Archivio Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Donated by the Alfieri-Maisano Archive to the Gam in Genoa in 2008-2009.
Exhibits : 1998 Contemporary Art Museum “Villa Croce” Genoa / 2008 – 2009 GAM Genoa
Bibliography: Anthological catalogue curated by Franco Sborgi, Mazzotta publisher 1998, page 119, N° 78 / Donation catalogue curated by Matteo Fochessati and Maria Flora Giubilei, Maschietto Publisher, Page 94, catalogue N° 21.
This art piece while waiting to be shown in 2008 was lent to the “Fondazione Colombo” and stored in the Wolsoniana deposit.
Furor Mathematicus
Furor Mathematicus
1964
Cement and bronze
47×44 cm
One cement casting and two bronze casting.
Photo:
Mario Parodi GE Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Foundry:
Tommasi Pietrasanta (Lu) – 2 castings in 1976 – 1978
Owner:
1 at the GAM Genoa (cement) / 1 Alfieri-Maisano archive / 1 private collector
Exhibits: 1981 “Nuovo Fanale” Gallery GE / 1988 Contemporary art Museum “Villa Croce” Genoa.
Bibliography: Anthological catalogue curated by Franco Sborgi, Mazzotta publisher 1998, page 117, N° 90
1989 Franco Sborgi Volume 3 page 167 – 171 ed. Carige.
Meditation on the crown of Jesus Christ
Meditation on the crown of Jesus Christ
1964
Bronze and lost wax casting, modeled in wax
47x49x12.5 cm
Unique piece
Photo:
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Foundry:
Fonderia Oreste Brustolin Verona – Cast in 1964
Proprietario:
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Exhibits : 1966 Ge “La Soffitta” / 1988 Contemporary Art Museum “Villa Croce” Genoa.
Bibliography: Anthological catalogue curated by Franco Sborgi, Mazzotta publisher 1998, page 114, N° 89
The Prisoner
The Prisoner
1970
Bronze and lost wax casting, modeled in wax
21x17x11.5 cm
Unique Piece
Photo:
Achille Grassi Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Foundry:
Versiliese Pietrasanta (Lu) – Cast in 1976
Owner:
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Exhibits: 1978 “Il Nuovo Fanale” Gallery Genoa.
In the Wind – Shadow theatre
In the Wind – Shadow Theatre
1964
Bronze and lost wax casting, modeled in wax
23x24x7.5 cm
Unique piece
Photo:
Achille Grassi Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Foundry:
Versiliese Pietrasanta (Lu) – cast in 1994
Owner:
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Exhibits : 1978 “Il Nuovo Fanale” Gallery Genoa
The Artwork is ispired by the Shadow Theatre in Java, Indonesia.
In the Wind
In the Wind
1970
Bronze and lost wax casting, modeled in wax
26x20x10 cm
Unique Piece
Photo:
Achille Grassi Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Foundry:
Belfiore Pietrasanta (Lu) – cast in 1984
Owner:
Alfieri-Maisano Archive
Exhibits: 1978 “Il Nuovo Fanale” Gallery Genoa
This statue is considered a bronze casting even if it’s a brass casting, the difference between bronze and brass is the percentage of metal in the alloy.
EDOARDO ALFIERI
All the photos and information are owned by the Alfieri-Maisano Archive and are subject to copyright.
It’s advised to always ask permission to the archive with every divulgation and publication of the material and, with the permission granted, to always quote the origins of the information, the Alfieri-Maisano Archive.
Stefania and Silvana Maisano
Contact us
archivioalfierimaisano@gmail.com
EDOARDO ALFIERI 