Carlo Socrate

Carlo Socrate, born on March 2, 1889, in Mezzana Bigli (Pavia) and deceased in Rome in 1967, was a notable Italian painter active mainly in Rome from 1911 until his death. Son of actors, he spent his early childhood in Argentina, in Rosario de Santa Fé, before returning to Italy where he trained at the free nude school in Florence under Giovanni Costetti. He permanently moved to Rome in 1914, establishing his studio at Villa Strohl Fern, an important artistic hub that hosted the Roman School, a movement he was part of.

His painting is characterized by a strong connection to Italian and European artistic traditions, drawing inspiration from Caravaggesque, Courbet, Velázquez, and Manetti models. Influenced by the art critic Roberto Longhi, Socrate viewed modern painting as a continuum linking great historical painting with contemporary innovations, particularly through the influence of Cézanne and Impressionism. His works include portraits and landscapes, with particular attention to light and composition.

Carlo Socrate is recognized for his contribution to 20th-century Italian painting, with a body of work reflecting a deep engagement with art history and an ongoing dialogue with the artistic currents of his time.