PAINTINGS IN PUBLIC SPACES
Polychrome bas-relief, Novara, Gherzi Barracks, 1943
Polychrome bas-relief
This bas-relief was carried out by Fiume in 1943 during his stay at the military hospital of Novara (Piedmont) whose building was known as Caserma (=Barracks) Gherzi. It is a tribute to all the doctors who spared no effort treating the wounded in various wars, and has remained in the disused barracks ever since. In 2011 a student of the Novara high school, Andrea Baiardi, wrote a thesis on the forgotten bas-relief as well as a number of articles in the Novara “Noi” (=Us) magazine which drew the attention of media and politicians. The local Administration and the Superintendent of Arts are exploring ways of making it accessible to the public.
Life Magazine Headquarters, New York, 1950
Oil on canvas, 1950
During the 1950 Venice Biennial, invited there on Alberto Savinio’ suggestion, Fiume exhibited a large triptych to which Life Magazine dedicated a whole page while commissioning him a few works for its New York Headquarters. In those paintings Fiume represented an imaginary reconstruction of Manhattan’s architectures where part of its skyscrapers seemed to have been conceived as prehistoric islands of statues.
Island of Statues, MoMA, New York, 1949
Oil on canvas, 1947
In 1949, during his exhibition at the Galleria Borromini of Milan, Mr Alfred Barr, Director of Collections at the MoMA of New York acquired this Island of Statues of 1947.
The Triumph of the Church, Nazareth, Church of the Annunciation, 1967
Mosaic
In 1967 Fiume painted the sketch for the mosaic of the Annunciation Basilica of Nazareth in the Holy Land. The Basilica was built by architect Giovanni Muzio in the 1960s for the Friars Minor of Milan.
Crucifixion, Latin Studio of Pope Sixtus IV, Palace of the Vatican, 1975
Oil on canvas
In 1975 Monsignor Pasquale Macchi, the private secretary of Pope Paul VI, asked Fiume to paint a crucifixion for the collection of religious art he was collecting in honour of the Pope from the most important contemporary artists.
Comiso, Church of the Annunciation, 1983
The Resurrection, oil on canvas, 1983
Nativity, oil on canvas, 1983
Saint Lucy, Church of the Sicilians, Rome, 1987
Oil on canvas, 1987
Father Pious, The Shrine of Father Pious, San Giovanni Rotondo, 1990s
Oil on canvas, 1990s
Deposition, Moscow, Puškin Museum, 1991
Oil on masonite, 1991
Flying planets, St. Petersburg, Hermitage Museum, 1991
Oil on masonite, 1991
Thaiti, Paul Gauguin Museum, Papeari, French Polynesia, 1992
Oil on masonite, 1992