Mariuccia Gandini nella vita e nell’opera di Felice Casorati (1920-24)

This paper reconstructs the forgotten biography of Mariuccia Gandini (1897-1924), a fundamental figure in the life and work of Felice Casorati (1883-1963), the major painter of Italian Magic Realism. Archival researches and new findings allow to overcome the oblivion followed to her early death. Her role was not limited to the sentimental relationship with the painter, but involves her work as a model and creative companion, as the two shared interest for music (Gandini, sister of a Turinese composer, was a celebrated pianist herself). The paper also traces her presence in paintings and drawings, from actual portraits to more ambiguous dedications or allusions, that were importantly collected in Casorati's solo exhibition at the Venice biennial in 1924.