DEEP ROOTS: ETRUSCANS AND THEIR WORLD
Pictorial project by
Laura Ferretti
During my life I have always felt the charm of Etruscan civilization and culture.
Their
deep
love
for
life.
A
love
strictly
connected
with
a
serene
knowledge
of
death.
The
refined
elegance
of
their
clothes,
jewels,
vases.
Their tools themselves too.
I
have
always
been
attracted
by
their
art.
By
the
linear
monumentality
of
some
complexes
and
even
more
by
the
freshness
of
their
works
made
for
themselves
with
a
particular
taste
for
the
episodic
situations.
A
dance
step,
a
winking
smile,
the
competition
quiver.
Almost
snapshots.
The
harmonious
spontaneity
of
relationships.
The
friendly
accomplice
and
affectionate
gestures
of
couples.
They
get
us
and
take
us
backward
in
time.
They
are
living
in
front
of
our
eyes.
Maids,
musicians,
dancers,
animals,
athletes,
couples.
Everyone
in
harmony,
lively
and
joyful.
And
the
Etruscan
woman,
refined
and
smiling,
makes
us
discover
an
equal
dimension,
an
affectionate
and
intimate man relating with her. Full of poetry.
I feel them alive. I desired transmitting these emotions.
I
had
many
pictures,
so
many
to
be
able
to
select
them,
searching
the
most
effective
to
live
again
moments
of
their
life,
fragments
of
their day-by-day life.
After
the
organization
of
contents
I
needed
an
expressive
means
which
gave
to
the
project
that
connection
and
dynamism
capable
to
make the past “unroll” becoming present through a succession of details that create the whole.
This
became
possible
through
aural
rapports
with
which
a
rectangle
resolves
itself
on
squares
that
fit
with
each
other
filling
the
entire
space.
And
from
the
smallest
one,
of
infinitesimal
measures,
a
spiral
gives
off
connecting
every
square,
linking
them
harmoniously.
So
the
spiral
is
a
dynamic
expression
and
a
time
connection
at
the
same
time:
the
fragments
that
advance
reconstruct
themselves
in
the
unity the main square, in the present, or, from it, they move returning on the past, in their world of quiet.
The
25
canvases,
derived
expressively
from
elements
of
Etruscan
art,
form
an
organic
nucleus.
They
tell
my
journey
back
in
time
to
seek out my most ancient roots.
But my journey is going on.
A
canvas
representing
the
sea
on
which,
at
the
horizon,
you
can
catch
a
glimpse
of
an
Etruscan
trading
vessel,
introduces
a
second
section whereby there are various landscapes, always painted with oil color, but with palette-knife.
These
are
our
landscapes,
the
ones
of
Maremma,
of
Tuscany.
Landscapes
without
houses,
people,
animals.
Landscapes
made
of
skies, land, sea, flowers, marshes. Of horizons. They are intense, dense. They are living now and in the most remote past.
click on images to visit the gallery
WORKS
DAY-BY-DAY MOMENTS
Ornamental
plants
and
birds,1
(cm
35x22)
2002.
Tarquinia,
the
Tomb
of
the
Triclinium;
the
Tomb
of
the
Augurs;
Chiusi,
the
Tomb of the Hill.
Ornamental
plants
and
birds,2
(cm
35x22)
2002.
Tarquinia,
the
Tomb
of
the
Augurs;
the
Tomb
of
the
Leopards;
the
Tomb
of
the Triclinium; the Tomb of the Funerary Bed.
Land animals
(cm 35x22) 2002. Chiusi, the Tomb of the Hill.
Aquatic and flying animals
(cm 35x22) 2002. Tarquinia, the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing.
Etruscan
Jewels,1
(cm
35x22)
2002.
Necklace
(650
b.
C.)
Cerveteri
–
Vaticano,
the
Etruscan
Museum;
fibula
(IX
sec.
b.
C.)
Tarquinia,
the
Archaeological
Museum;
fibula
(VII
sec.
b.
C.)
Volterra,
the
Guarnacci
Museum;
two
plait-catches
(VII
sec.
b.
C.)
Cerveteri,
the
Valle
Giulia
Museum
in
Rome;
ring
(VI
sec.
b.
C.)
Veio,
the
Valle
Giulia
Museum
in
Rome;
bird-shape
eardrop
(III
sec.
b.C)
Vulci,
the
Valle
Giulia
Museum
in
Rome;
pyramidal
eardrop
(III-II
sec.
b.
C.)
Volterra,
the
Valle
Giulia
Museum
in
Rome.
Etruscan
Jewels,2
(cm
35x22)
2002.
Bracelet
(VII
sec.
b.
C.)
Vulci,
the
Valle
Giulia
Museum
in
Rome;
couple
of
fibulas
(VII
sec.
b.
C.)
Archaeological
Museum
in
Bologna;
pendant
(650
b.
C.)
Vulci,
Antikesammlungen
in
Munich;
two
hair-pins
and
a
big
brooch
(VII
sec.
b.
C.)
Palestrina,
the
Valle
Giulia
Museum
in
Rome;
a
cluster-shape
earring
(IV
sec
b.
C.)
Civitella
San
Paolo, the Valle Giulia Museum in Rome; bracelet (IV sec. b. C.) Vulci, Antikenmuseum in Berlin.
Coins,1
(cm
35x22)
2002.
Gold
coin
with
lion
head
stamp,
Populonia,
Archaeological
National
Museum
in
Florence;
silver
coin
with
wild
boar
stamp,
Populonia,
Archaeological
National
Museum
in
Florence;
silver
coin
with
Gorgon
head
stamp,
Populonia,
Archaeological
National
Museum
in
Florence;
silver
coin
with
octopus
and
amphora
stamp,
Populonia,
Archaeological
National
Museum
in
Florence;
bronze
coin
(set
of
coins
with
wheel
stamp);
bronze
coin
(Vati
legend)
front
and
back,
Vetulonia,
Archaeological Museum.
Coins,2
(cm
35x22)
2002.
Gold
coin
with
lion
head
stamp,
Populonia,
Archaeological
National
Museum
in
Florence;
silver
coin
with
Aquatic
animals
stamp;
silver
coin
with
Gorgon
head
stamp,
Populonia,
Archaeological
National
Museum
in
Florence;
silver
coin
with
Chimera
stamp
Populonia,
Archaeological
National
Museum
in
Florence;
bronze
coin
(set
of
coins
with
wheel
stamp); bronze coin (Velathri legend) front and back, Vetulonia Archaeological Museum.
Etruscan
vases,1
(cm
35x22)
2002.
Kyathos,
the
Valle
Giulia
Museum
in
Rome;
heavy
bucchero
chalice,
Archaeological
Museum in Grosseto; kantharos, Archaeological Museum in Grosseto; incensory, Archaeological Museum Artimino (Florence).
Etruscan
vases,2
(cm
35x22)
2002.
Oinochoe,
heavy
bucchero,
Archaeological
Museum
in
Grosseto;
heavy
bucchero
kyathos,
Archaeological
Museum
in
Grosseto;
one-handed
vase,
Archaeological
Museum
in
Grosseto;
thin
bucchero
kylix,
Archaeological Museum in Grosseto.
LIFE MOMENTS
Maids plating garlands
(cm 50x31) 2002. (VI sec. b. C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing.
The diver
(cm 50x31) 2002. (VI sec. b. C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing.
DEATH MOMENTS
Farewell forever
(cm 50x31) 2002. (VI sec. b. C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of the Augurs.
Velia in front of the eternity
(cm 50x31) 2002. (III-II sec. b. C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of the Ogre.
YOUNG OFFERERS
Maiden
(cm 50x31) 2002. (480 b. C.) Monte Acuto, Archaeological Museum in Bologna.
Night shadow
(cm 50x31) 2002. (III sec. b. C.) Volterra, the Guarnacci Museum.
CLOSE TO HEAVEN: ACROTERIONAL STATUES
The mysterious smile of Aplu
(cm 50x31) 2002. (500 b. C.) Veio, the Valle Giulia Museum in Rome.
Man with a peculiar hat
(cm 50x31) 2002. (575 b. C.) Poggio Civitate, Antiquarium in Murlo.
GAMES: COMPETITION ATMOSPHERE
The strugglers
(cm 80x50) 2003. (VI sec. b. C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of Augurs.
The runners
(cm 80x50) 2003. (VI sec. b. C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of Olympic Games.
HARMONY OF SOUNDS AND MOVEMENTS
Flautist and lyre-player
(cm 80x50) 2003. (470 b.C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of Triclinium.
Dancing couple
(cm 80x50) 2003. (470 b.C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of Triclinium.
COUPLE HARMONY
Banqueting together
(cm 100x62) 2003. (VI sec. b. C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing.
The married couple
(cm 100x62) 2004 (530 b. C.) Cerveteri, the Valle Giulia Museum in Rome
MEN AND NATURE IN HARMONY
Hunting and fishing
(cm 150x93) 2003 (VI sec b.C.) Tarquinia, the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Stenico, LA PITTURA ETRUSCA E ROMANA, (Mondadori,1963)
Pallottino, ETRUSCOLOGIA, (Hoepli,1984)
Cristofani,Etruschi,CULTURA E SOCIETA’, (Istituto Geografico De Agostini,1981)
Cameni, LA TOSCANA DEGLI etruschi, (Il Tirreno,1993)
various Authors, GLI etruschi MILLE ANNI DI CIVILTA’,vol.I, (Bonechi,1985)
various Authors,, GLI etruschi MILLE ANNI DI CIVILTA’,vol.II, (Bonechi,1985)
Cristofani, CIVILTA’ DEGLI etruschi, (Electa,1985)
Pianu, GLI etruschi CINQUE MITI DA SFATARE, (Armando Curcio editore,1985)
Cristofani, DIZIONARIO DELLA CIVILTA’ ETRUSCA, (Giunti Martello,1985)
Moscati, ARCHEOLOGIA DELLE REGIONI D’ITALIA, (Rizzoli,1984)
Mazzolai, GROSSETO IL MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO DELLA MAREMMA, (Bonari,1977)
Mazzolai, GLI ETRUSCHI DI TARQUINIA CERVETERI E VEIO, ( Arsuna)
various Authors, LE GRANDI AVVENTURE DELL’ARCHEOLOGIA,vol. IV, (Armando Curcio)