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Adolfo De Carolis
(
Montefiore dell'Aso  6 gennaio 1874 - Roma  7 febbraio 1928)
 
Italian painter, illustrator and wood-engraver.

 

 He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Bologna (1888-92) and at the Scuola di Decorazione Pittorica at the Museo Artistica Industriale in Rome (1892-5). De Carolis began painting en plein-air in the Roman Campagna under the influence of Nino Costa's group, In Arte Libertas, with whom he exhibited in 1897. At the Venice Biennale of 1899 he exhibited allegorical paintings inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites. De Carolis became a distinguished wood-engraver and illustrator, working with such writers as Giovanni Pascoli and Gabriele D'Annunzio (for whom he also created stage designs). He himself wrote essays on art for various periodicals, including Hermes and Rinascimento. His greatest achievements, however, were in decorative painting. While creating mythological frescoes at the Salone del Consiglio Provinciale at Ascoli Piceno (1907-9), De Carolis, together with the architect Alfredo Brizzi, won the competition (1908) for the decoration of the Salone del Palazzo del Podest? di Bologna. In 1911 he began a Renaissance-inspired scheme depicting aspects of the history of civilization, with a particular emphasis on Bologna's past; the project was completed by assistants after his death. The wall paintings are in situ, but for safety reasons the ceiling paintings were detached in 1972-3, and some were ruined in the process. During the rest of his career De Carolis executed numerous frescoes and wood-engravings.

Works: Posters