Second part of the Bartolomucci Collection. 

In the field of African art, Adolfo Bartolomucci, or more simply Adlof as he was called in Africa, was for years a point of reference for many collectors, scholars, experts in the field, but also for neophytes and the curious.

His image is that of an eclectic character, strongly independent, sometimes ironic, but always human. After high school and military service as a complementary officer in Messina, he went to France, to Lyon, to attend university.

In 1958, he left France to travel to Africa, to Mali - still a French colony at the time - where he taught mathematics for a few years at the Technical High School in Bamako.

It was here, in Mali's capital, that African artistic expression appeared to him in its entirety. He understands that those masks and sculptures, seen so far only in the showcases of museums and galleries frequented in France, or in the rare publications dedicated to the 'primitive arts', represent only the smallest part of a more heterogeneous form of expression.

He is especially intrigued by the complex abstractionism of zoomorphic masks, and their enigmatic conjugations with astonishing-looking anthropomorphic figures, but he is also strongly attracted to the shapes, colours and essentiality of everyday artefacts.

All African 'artistic' production fascinates him, but he wants to know more: to delve deeper, he alternates teaching with field trips. Thanks to increasingly frequent meetings with members of different local cultural groups (Dogon, Bambara, Minyanka), he gathers valuable information on traditional sculpture and its ritual significance.

All of Africa's 'artistic' production fascinates him, but he wants to know more about it: in order to learn more, he alternates teaching with field trips. Thanks to increasingly frequent meetings with members of different local cultural groups (Dogon, Bambara, Minyanka), he gathers valuable information on traditional sculpture and its ritual significance.

In the objects he gradually identifies, he also identifies his own commercial interest, which he combines with a heterogeneous import/export activity. Thus, his new story takes shape: with the advantage of living in Mali, he also makes regular trips to other West African countries, collecting oral, artistic and artisanal evidence among the Baulé, Dan and Senufo people of the Ivory Coast, among the Bobo, Bwa, Mossi and Lobi people of what is now Burkina Faso (then Upper Volta), among the Ashanti people of Ghana, the Ewe and Fon people of Togo, among the Nago and Yoruba people of Benin, and the Ibo people of Nigeria.

She increasingly accompanies researchers and scholars in the field, and never fails to officially represent Mali at trade fairs in Italy, presenting a rich production of handicrafts such as textiles, ornaments, numerous feminine heritage artefacts such as baskets, terracotta, and everyday furnishings, as well as masks and sculptures, which she has also offered for sale in her Milan gallery since 1965.

Since the beginning of 2000, he has edited a series of publications on his African experience spanning more than 50 years, illustrating artefacts from the various cultures he has visited: 'Figurative Art and Material Culture of West Africa', in the series Memories of Africa: 'Djenné Culture', 'Bambara Culture', 'Soninké Culture', 'Bura Asinda-Sikka Culture', 'The Ancient Cultures of Nigeria', 'Terracotta Animals in the Ancient Art of Mali', and 'African Currency', a monumental census illustrated and commented on Africa's tribal coins. , 'Terracotta Animals in the Ancient Art of Mali', and the monumental 'African Currency', an illustrated and annotated census of Africa's tribal coins.

Since the beginning of 2000, he has edited a series of publications on his African experience spanning more than 50 years, illustrating artefacts from the various cultures he has visited: 'Figurative Art and Material Culture of West Africa', in the series Memories of Africa: 'Djenné Culture', 'Bambara Culture', 'Soninké Culture', 'Bura Asinda-Sikka Culture', 'The Ancient Cultures of Nigeria', 'Terracotta Animals in the Ancient Art of Mali', and 'African Currency', a monumental census illustrated and commented on Africa's tribal coins. , 'Terracotta Animals in the Ancient Art of Mali', and the monumental 'African Currency', a truly illustrated and annotated census of Africa's tribal coins.

Today, many of the pieces collected with passion in Africa by Adolfo Bartolomucci can be found in numerous collections, private and public, discreetly, without fuss, as was his life.

Adolfo Bartolomucci was born in 1933 in San Demetrio in the province of L'Aquila and died in Milan in 2022.

Contact persons

Head of department
Gherardo Rusconi gherardo.rusconi@capitoliumart.it

Department coordinator
Chiara Bellini chiara.bellini@capitoliumart.it