Fernando Botero: Sculture, disegni, dipinti, Venice

Since September 20, 2002, the renovated and expanded Contini Art Gallery has been hosting the paintings, bronzes and drawings of Fernando Botero. Big celebration: because Botero always brings, with him, a breath of optimism, of confidence in life, therefore of sympathy.
Botero, despite being Colombian, is deeply influenced by ancient Italian art, such as Piero della Francesca and Giotto. His interest in Italian art began when, as a young man, he saw a book with a reproduction of the Queen of Sheba in Madrid, which inspired him deeply. His painting is a combination of Italian "antiquity" and Colombian "authenticity."
Botero is known for his ability to blend Italian aesthetics with Colombian ethnicity, creating works that are simultaneously classical and ethnic. His painting is characterized by a harmonious beauty, golden measure and composition reminiscent of Raphael.

His bronzes follow a classical sculptural tradition, with a roundness that is based on an ideal measure, similar to sculptors such as Donatello and Moore. His "revolución permanente" in art consists of stepping outside the boundaries of artistic conformity and following human impulses.
Finally, Botero's sympathy is a key element in his international success. His works depicting abundant and happy bodies challenge the canons of anorexic supermodels and promote a healthier conception of food and nourishment. This aspect, along with his folksy wit, makes him beloved by the public and the subject of much media attention.