Italian art has a tradition that dates back thousands of years to the Etruscans and Romans. The Etruscans occupied what is now Tuscany and it was their temples, murals and pottery that influenced Roman art and architecture. The Romans demonstrated a more utilitarian approach to art in the way they adorned and decorated their villas and public buildings.
Although not a Roman innovation, Mosaic Italian Art achieved new heights of popularity and was spread throughout the Empire. Designed by artists, mosaics were often completed by ordinary craftsman who were responsible for laying the mosaic tiles. To this day Italian are recognized as artist in the business of ceramic tiles and stone. It was the Italian Art Renaissance that sparked a revolution in art and a quest for knowledge of mathematics, science and the human body. Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael lead the way creating the paintings and sculptures that we recognize today as being fundamentally Italian. Michelangelo’s David and the Sistine Chapel are renowned works of Italian art. Leonardo da Vinci followed as the quintessential Renaissance man and gave the world the last Supper and the Mona Lisa. Da Vinci was devoted to learning and studied everything from anatomy to warfare. This fascination with learning transcends the ages and gave the Italians prestigious universities and pioneer educators like Maria Montessori.
The Italians are credited with Futurism, the Italian art movement that centered on the veneration of modern technology and the machine. Proponents of the movement considered technology to be a cornerstone of a new way of life and rejected classical art and culture. The principals of Futurism are now part of our everyday life, the way we communicate and conduct business.
Italian art has its share of contemporary artists including: Montreal avant-garde artist Guido Molinari, Sculptor Umberto Mastroianni, the photographer Tina Modotti and Giorgio de Chirico, painter and sculptor.
Originating in the Baroque era, opera is another Italian gift to the world. Bellini, Rossini and Verdi have composed some of the world’s greatest operas. In contemporary times Giacomo Puccini produces some of the best operas. Andrea Bocelli, Domingo, Pavarotti and Carreras continue to popularize this Italian art form.
The Italian art scene has produced some memorable movies, talented actors and actresses. The classic Spaghetti Westerns, Man with No Name trilogy or the Dollars trilogy, by Italian director Sergio Leone typify the genre.
