Ercole Pignatelli

The lush landscapes and fecund flora of Italy's Puglia region animate the large-scale paintings of Ercole Pignatelli, whose 70th birthday coincides with this retrospective publication. Working on a variety of surfaces including glass, canvas and wood, Pignatelli captures close-up tangles of tree branches extending beyond the frame, creates mysterious Cubist cities emerging as if from mirages, and hides voluptuous nudes behind a veil of incense and a screen of vines. This volume comprises classic and recent works as well as critical evaluations, including an essay by Italian novelist Dino Buzzati, and an extensive interview with the artist.