Tornabuoni Arte celebrates 20 years of activity in Forte dei Marmi. After the opening in Florence and Milan, the founder Roberto Casamonti opened in 2004 the Versilia headquarters of what will become a reference point for collectors and art lovers. On view, from mid-June to mid-September, works by all the greatest masters of the ‘900. A passion passed on by his father, which leads him over the years to select valuable works proposed to a careful and demanding clientele.
How his passion for art was born.
From an early age, I followed in the footsteps of my father, a great art lover. With him, I deepened my knowledge of the most significant figurative artists of the ‘900. Then, I began to buy paintings by masters such as de Chirico, Savinio, and other post-war great masters such as Fontana, Burri, Boetti, Dorazio.
Until 1981 you were a great collector; later you opened your first gallery in Florence.
The transition from collector to gallery owner was natural. The passion for art led me to create a private collection. The great masters of the ‘900 and the artists who have been able to distinguish themselves have identified my gallery, outlining a high-level proposal for customers.
ON VIEW ARTWORKS BY GREAT MASTERS OF THE '900, FROM MORANDI TO DE CHIRICO TO FONTANA
In your long work, you have witnessed major changes.
Art is always in the making. It becomes an expression of profound changes that gallerists, as attentive observers, must be ready to understand. Time exalts the artists who, through their talent, have been able to renew themselves, interpreting new trends and a natural evolution. The importance of a work always passes through its real artistic stature, and does not depend only on the notoriety of the author.
At Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni in Florence, you opened a space where you display your private collection.
The Roberto Casamonti Collection traces the most significant moments of my life. A path built over the years with paintings and sculptures that have accompanied my long journey and that I decided to share with Florence, to which I have always been very connected. The artworks on view have a huge value, especially emotional, and cover a period of time ranging from the early ‘900 to the present day.
THE GALLERY OF FORTE DEI MARMI IS OUR FLAGSHIP. AFTER OPENINGS IN FLORENCE AND MILAN, WE DECIDED TO CREATE A LANDMARK IN VERSILIA, SUMMER DESTINATION OF MANY CUSTOMERS
This summer, Tornabuoni Arte celebrates 20 years of opening in Forte dei Marmi. How did the idea of opening a gallery in Versilia come about?
The gallery of Forte dei Marmi is our flagship. After the openings in Florence and Milan, we decided to create a landmark in Versilia, a summer destination for many customers. For the twentieth anniversary, we decided to create an important exhibition, with works by authors such as Morandi, de Chirico, and Fontana. Until mid-September, the paintings will be visible to admirers, who over the years have made great Tornabuoni Arte.
