Cagnaccio di San Pietro l’Alzana
Cagnaccio di San Pietro, pseudonym of Natalino Bentivoglio Scarpa (1897-1946), was an Italian painter belonging to the Magic Realism current. His style, characterised by extreme attention to detail and an almost hyperrealistic rendering, made him one of the most distinctive artists of his era.
His work, often imbued with symbolic meanings and a profound reflection on the society of his time, represents a bridge between the Venetian pictorial tradition and the new instances of modern figurative painting.
CAGNACCIO DI SAN PIETRO
Cagnaccio di San Pietro, Rosario
Born in Desenzano del Garda but raised in Venice, Natalino Bentivoglio Scarpa, known as Cagnaccio di San Pietro, developed a strong connection with the Venetian painting tradition from a young age, influenced in particular by Renaissance masters such as Giovanni Bellini and Vittore Carpaccio.
After attending the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice, he broke away from avant-garde currents to concentrate on figurative painting characterised by a rigorous formal realism and impeccable technical rendering. His stage name, ‘Cagnaccio di San Pietro’, recalls his island origins in San Pietro in Volta, a small village on the Venetian lagoon.
During his career, he had a complex relationship with the official art world. While he received important recognition, such as participation in the Venice Biennale, his artistic approach, often critical of bourgeois society and institutions, led him to be marginalised by the dominant art system.
The Style and Themes of Cagnaccio di San Pietro’s Art
Cagnaccio di San Pietro’s Magical Realism is distinguished by an exaggerated realism, capable of transforming everyday scenes into suspended, almost metaphysical images. His paintings show a meticulous use of light and a maniacal precision in detail, with a strong symbolic component and a sense of stillness that recalls the work of artists such as Antonio Donghi and Felice Casorati.
His themes range from the social to the religious, with a focus on the human condition.
Austere and hieratic figures often emerge in his paintings, characterised by a strong realism and immersed in essential settings that accentuate the sense of isolation and introspection.
Criticism of bourgeois society and materialism emerges in many of his works, as does a deep sense of compassion for the weak and marginalised.
Cagnaccio di San Pietro, Dopo l’orgia
Major works by Cagnaccio di San Pietro
‘After the Orgy’ (1928):
perhaps his most famous work, it depicts an allegorical scene of moral and social decay. The precision with which details are rendered and the tight composition give the painting a strong visual impact. The work has aroused controversy due to its crudity and moral interpretation of contemporary society.
‘Wedding Lunch’ (1931): an excellent example of his exaggerated realism, with perfectly delineated figures and a composition that suggests a sense of estrangement. The painting depicts a set table, where the bride and groom and the diners appear as if frozen in a surreal and disturbing atmosphere.
‘The Waiting’ (1934): a painting imbued with silence and tension, in which the subjects, although immersed in everyday life, seem suspended in a timeless dimension. The use of light and anatomical details gives the figures an almost sculptural presence.
‘Madonna of the Poor’ (1933): one of his most emblematic works, where spirituality merges with realism, creating a powerful and moving image. The figure of the Madonna, depicted with penetrating realism, embodies a human and accessible sacredness, in stark contrast to traditional religious iconography.
‘Women Waiting’ (1934): a work depicting a group of women sitting in a bare and austere environment, waiting for an unspecified event. The use of perspective and composition contributes to a strong sense of suspension and unease.
‘The Owl’ (1938): a painting with an intense symbolic atmosphere, where the nocturnal animal, traditionally associated with wisdom and mystery, takes on an enigmatic role within the represented scene.
Cagnaccio di San Pietro profoundly marked 20th century Italian art thanks to his ability to combine realism and introspection. His unique style, characterised by meticulous realism and a suspended atmosphere, continues to fascinate critics and art lovers alike, making him an indispensable figure of Italian Magic Realism.
His work is an extraordinary testimony of the human condition, through a painting that lies between symbolism and the crude representation of reality.
Valuations of the works of Cagnaccio di San Pietro
If you wish to know the value of his works, you can consult the Galleria Antiquaria Corvi in Rome’s Parioli area, which makes free quotations for painters and sculptors of the 19th and 20th centuries.