Giovanni Consolazione Biography
Giovanni Consolazione was born in Gravina in 1908 and was a famous Italian painter. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and lived in this city from 1939 until his death. He was also a tenured teacher at the same institution.
Consolazione was married to the poet Nietta Abruzzini and had seven children with her. During the last years of his life, he also successfully dedicated himself to sculpture. "The Bull" is one of his most famous works and is currently exhibited in the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome. His works have been exhibited in the most important galleries, museums and collections around the world.
In his artistic career, Consolazione has addressed many themes that have become constant and recurring in his works. These include images of popular life, effort, work, study, silent landscapes of Rome, portraits and female nudes and figures of religious subjects. His style was frank and without complexes, like the people of his Gravina.
Consolazione received many awards and recognition for his work, including the Prize at the National Exhibition of the Nude in Art Rome in 1947, the Ministry of Education Painting Prize in 1948, the International Artistic Association Rome Prize in 1948, and the International Exhibition «Work in Art» Suzzara in 1951.
Consolazione also served on numerous commissions, including the Mostra del Mezzogiorno d'Italia, the Executive Committee and the Judging Commission, the Commission for invitations to the National Agricultural Exhibition Universal Exhibition in 1953 and the Commission for invitations to the Exhibition of Sacred Art of Assisi in 1951.
Consolazione was part of the Board of Directors of the Triennale di Milano and was General Secretary of the Italian Committee of the International Association for the Plastic Arts for UNESCO. In 1964, Consolazione died prematurely, but his name and his works have left lasting footprints in the history of contemporary Italian art.
