I dimenticati dell’arte. La storia dell’architetto e scultore Pietro De Laurentiis
The life and legacy of Pietro De Laurentiis, a multifaceted Italian architect, sculptor, and cultural activist, are being rediscovered through a retrospective look at his prolific career. Born into a peasant family in Abruzzo, De Laurentiis rose to prominence in Rome's mid-century art scene, balancing a forty-year teaching career at the Faculty of Architecture with significant public commissions, including bronze panels for the ACEA headquarters and marble works for INPS. His artistic style evolved from rural-inspired figuration to a unique geometric abstraction that blended Cubism with folk traditions.
De Laurentiis matters because he represents the 'forgotten' protagonists of Italian Modernism who bridged the gap between fine art, architecture, and civic duty. Beyond his sculptures, he was a pivotal figure in urban preservation, collaborating with organizations like Italia Nostra and the WWF to save historic Roman green spaces like Villa Blanc from real estate speculation. His story highlights the interconnectedness of artistic practice and environmental activism in 20th-century Italy, supported by major critics like Giulio Carlo Argan and Eugenio Battisti.