Domenico Colao

Domenico Colao was a significant Italian painter, born in Monteleone Calabro (now Vibo Valentia) on October 21, 1881, and died in Rome on December 13, 1943. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence under Giovanni Fattori, developing a figurative style deeply influenced by his master, characterized by a poetic and realistic vision of reality. Colao's artistic production ranges from portraits to genre scenes, with particular attention to rural and popular themes, as demonstrated by works such as 'Contadino' and 'Maternità'. He exhibited in major national exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale in 1926 and the Roman Quadriennale, where he presented works like 'Gli umili', 'Georgica', and 'Grano sull'aia'. In 1940, Corrado Alvaro curated the catalogue for his exhibition at the Gian Ferrari Gallery in Milan, confirming the critical esteem he enjoyed. In 1942, he was invited to fresco the central hall of the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions for the Universal Exhibition in Rome, creating 'Battitura del grano', the only fresco work by the artist. His works are present in public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome, the Ricci Oddi Gallery in Piacenza, and the Mussolini Gallery in Rome. Colao was an honorary professor at the Academies of Fine Arts in Florence, Naples, and Perugia, and his last participation was at the 1943 Roman Quadriennale, where he also exhibited a self-portrait. His art, marked by a deep sensitivity towards everyday life and peasant tradition.