Renato Natali - Still Life

The "Still Life" genre emerged in the early 17th century. It consisted of compositions of inanimate subjects, most often flowers or fruit. While initially it was an opportunity for painters to experiment with naturalistic or photographic reproductions of reality, with contemporary art, the "Still Life" also became a way of interpreting reality. Indeed, as happened, for example, in the Cubist avant-garde or in Giorgio Morandi, the in-depth exploration of objects was aimed at a conceptual representation, taken beyond the mere sensory aspect.

Compared to genre scenes, Livorno-born artist Renato Natali's interpretation of still lifes demonstrates a different pictorial language. The pronounced post-Impressionist, if not Expressionist, synthesis that characterizes much of his work gives way, in his still lifes, to a more calligraphic style, closely aligned with the sensory element. His still lifes, in fact, are extraordinary examples of realistic rendering, faithfully depicting what lies before him. What's exceptional is that this lifelike representation is executed almost with the tip of a brush, with a complex design defined by fine lines. However, despite his meticulous descriptive rendering, Natali cannot help but infuse a certain expressionism into the representation. Thus, the pictorial layering remains vibrant, and despite the absolute realism of the objects, they exhibit a certain disintegration of form that makes them alive and vibrant with existence.

Renato Natali, Livorno 1883–1979, was among the founders of the Gruppo Labronico along with Gino Romiti, Gastone Razzaguta, and Giovanni Zannacchini. His experiences in Venice, but especially in Paris, were crucial to his development. There, he also frequented Modigliani and became acquainted with the European avant-garde. Upon his return, he developed a style based on the post-Macchiaioli tradition but featuring an expressionistic synthetism and a vibrant color palette.

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