Uberto Bonetti

Uberto Bonetti was an Italian artist born on January 31, 1909, in Viareggio, Italy, where he also passed away on April 10, 1993. Son of Pietro Bonetti from Pistoia and Maria Teresa Riannessi from Viareggio, he began his artistic studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lucca under the mentorship of Lorenzo Viani. From an early age, he distinguished himself as a painter, draftsman, and caricaturist, collaborating with prominent magazines and newspapers such as “La Lettura” and “Il Corriere della Sera.” In 1931, he designed the famous Viareggio carnival mask, the Burlamacco, which remains a symbol of the Viareggio Carnival today.
Bonetti embraced the aeropainting branch of Futurism, an artistic movement celebrating flight and modernity, and was encouraged by notable figures like Fortunato Depero and Thayaht to also engage in fashion and design. Between 1932 and 1938, he contributed to the weekly magazine "L'artiglio," creating propaganda drawings inspired by aviation. Later, he distanced himself from the fascist regime, with which his relations became increasingly strained.
Besides painting, Bonetti worked in scenography, designing sets for films and important cultural events in Viareggio, such as the Viareggio Literary Prize and the Book Fair. Throughout his life, he met and collaborated with many prominent Italian cultural figures, including Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Luigi Pirandello, and Giuseppe Ungaretti. His work is marked by a deep connection to his hometown and versatility spanning painting, graphic arts, fashion, and scenography.