Carlo Levi's Portrait of Anna Magnani

Carlo Levi and Anna Magnani
Fondazione Carlo Levi, Rome

In my ongoing quest to learn more about 20th century artist and writer, Carlo Levi, I recently discovered one of his most celebrated masterpieces, Ritratto di Anna Magnani (Portrait of Anna Magnani), an oil on canvas, which was created in 1954.

His close friendship with Anna Magnani was news to me but what I found most fascinating about this portrait is the presence of Levi’s post-1935 style, his new pictorial approach referred to by art critics as the "wavy" brushstroke. He developed this style during his political exile in Basilicata in 1935 when he spent much of his time there creating stunning portraits of the contadini (peasants) he befriended, who served as the inspiration behind his infamous novel, Christ Stopped at Eboli, which was later made into a movie by Francesco Rosi. It fascinates me because it's further proof how much of an impact that one year of exile in Basilicata had on him. Click here to watch a clip from my documentary "Return to Lucania" in which a mayor from the region talks about Levi's influence on the region.

Carlo Levi. Portrait of Anna Magnani. 1954.
Fondazione Ragghianti

There is so much that I love about this painting. In my opinion, I don't think that it fits perfectly into any particular style of art. Perhaps there's a bit of idealization and naturalism with some abstract qualities, which perfectly suits Magnani because she wasn't able to be boxed into a category either. I also love the Roman landscape behind her. She was and still is the epitome of Roman, so it’s fitting that her background is the Eternal City. Quoted as saying, “Please don’t retouch my wrinkles. It took me so long to earn them,” she was a strong, unapologetic woman and this portrait captures that embodiment by making her image stand out so robustly from the background.

One of Magnani’s most famous American films is Sidney Lumet’s 1960 “The Fugitive Kind,” which was adapted from Tennessee Williams’ 1957 play “Orpheus Descending.” She stars opposite Marlon Brando and gives an epic performance. Although the film was made six years after the portrait was done, it reminds me of her character, Lady Torrance, and her fiery personality. Click here to watch a clip on YouTube.

Levi thoroughly captured her intensity and spirit in this work. If you don’t know anything about her, you can look into her eyes and determine that she’s deep, not much into small talk, passionate and loves very hard. Despite a successful career, she had a tough personal life and died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 65. If you see her last film, “1870," which was released on Italian television on the day of her death in 1973, you will see how radiant and full of life she was right up until the very end.

Magnani beside her portrait, Archivio Luce

The portrait was recently on display at the Fondazione Ragghianti in Lucca, Italy as part of the exhibition, “Un’amicizia tra pittura, politica e letteratura,” dedicated to Levi and his friendships. The exhibition touched on Levi’s interest in cinema and his work as a screenwriter. He created a poster for the 1961 film “Accattone” by Pier Paolo Pasolini, who also spent time in Lucania. Pasolini shot his 1964 “The Gospel According to St. Matthew" there, so I can’t help but wonder if the two shared stories from their time spent in the region. Click here to listen to a rare interview of Pasolini from the set of the film in Basilicata.

The younger generations of Italians have a great appreciation for the legacies of the intellectuals and cultural giants who came before them, and these two icons, Carlo Levi and Anna Magnani are among the greats.

Four of the aforementioned films are available on Amazon and Criterion Channel. Click on the titles to stream them.

Comments

Ornella Muti: Five decades of Acting and Still Going Strong

Ornella Muti was born Francesca Romana Rivelli in Rome in 1955 to a Neapolitan father and an Estonian mother. She began her career as a model during her teenage years and made her film debut in 1970 with “La Moglie più bella” (The Most Beautiful Wife). Her follow-up role was in the 1971 film, “Sole nella pelle” (Sun on the Skin), in which she played the daughter of wealthy parents who runs off with a hippie they don’t approve of. The film offers a telling journey through Italian society in the seventies, with its political climate, breathtaking seaside, and the styles and cars of that time. Much of the film is set amid the sunny Italian seaside and captures the innocence and beauty of first love. Muti made her American film debut in 1980 with "Flash Gordon." She played the role of Princess Aura. She’s appeared in two other American films, including “Oscar,” directed by John Landis and starring Don Ameche, Chazz Palminteri, and Sylvester Stallone. In 1992, she w...

Model/Actress Anna Falchi

Anna Falchi was born Anna Kristiina Palomaki, on April 22, 1972, in Tampere, Finland. Her mother, Kaarina Palomaki Sisko, is Finnish, while her father, Benito "Tito" Falchi, is from Romagna, Italy. Growing up in Italy, Anna was a tomboy, and had a fervent imagination. She is known mostly for her prolific career in modelling. However, she tried her hand at acting and landed a role in one of my favorite Italian comedies, Nessun messaggio in segreteria . I consider it my one of my favorites because it brought together so many amazing, talented filmmakers during a time when they were all just starting out. Those filmmakers, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valerio Mastandrea, Luca Miniero and Paolo Genovese are now huge names in contemporary Italian cinema, so it's great to look back and see their work in a low-profile film completely different from the bigger-budget stardom they now know. Watch the trailer . Anna Falchi started her career as a...

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann. Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

Gianni Amelio: An Iconic Filmmaker Inspired by Humble Beginnings

The films of this year’s edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, the annual film series hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York, reflect a country in crisis. Italians are facing unprecedented economic challenges right now with the loss of jobs and a political infrastructure lacking the stability needed to get the country back on track. Each director featured in the Open Roads festival communicates that crisis in a uniquely different way; some with comedy, some with anger and resentment, and others with humble characters who will do just about anything to put food on the table. This brings me to veteran director, Gianni Amelio, and what a class act. I had the pleasure of talking with Amelio while he was in New York promoting two films included in this year’s edition of Open Roads- a documentary titled, "Happy to be Different," which explores gay life in Italy after the fall of fascism through the early '80s and "L’intrepido," the story of ...

A Conversation with Actor- Luca Calvani from Warner Bros. Upcoming Release "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

The cast and filmmakers of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in Rome A few years ago, I interviewed actor, Luca Calvani on the occasion of his U.S. release, When in Rome . Today, we are revisiting our conversation as he is promoting his much anticipated spy thriller, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the all-star cast includes Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant. Based on the television series by Sam Rolfe, the story is set in the 1960's and follows CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin as they participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. The U.S. release date is set for August 14, but the cast recently did some press for the film in the Eternal City, where much of it was shot. Luca Calvani Born in Tuscany, Calvani has traveled the world following his career. He began working as a model in the 1990's...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog