An exhibition in Nuoro to rediscover two unknown works by an artist from the city

A exhibition in Nuoro, Italy, is showcasing two previously unknown works by the Sardinian artist Bernardino Palazzi (1907–1986). The show, titled "Radici" and curated by Chiara Manca at the Mancaspazio gallery, presents a monumental graphite drawing from the 1920s that critics had been searching for since the 1930s, and an oil painting whose existence was completely unknown. The drawing, "Gli Apostoli nell'orto" (1927), was first shown at the 1928 Venice Biennale but went unnoticed; the painting, "La Veronica" (1951), is a preparatory study for a large fresco.

The rediscovery matters because it forces art historians to reassess the scope of Palazzi's oeuvre and his place in 20th-century Italian art. The works reveal his synthesis of quattrocento traditions (influenced by Mantegna and Bellini) with the monumental style of the 1920s and the expressive unease of Italian Novecento and Valori Plastici. By bringing these lost pieces back to public view, the exhibition enriches the understanding of a master from Nuoro and highlights the importance of local galleries in uncovering hidden artistic heritage.