23: Renato Guttuso – Flowers, 1954
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Details
Sizes:
Frame: 47 × 36 cm | 18.5 × 14.1 in
Artwork: 46 × 35 cm | 18.1 × 13.8 in
Dated “Roma 15. VIII. 54” (Rome, 15 August 1954).
Inscribed “A Julius Starzinsky ricordo del nostro amico” (To Julius Starzinsky, in memory of our friend).
Annotated on the reverse “Własność prywatna / J. A…. / 19. IV. 1962” (Polish: “Private property / J.A…. / 19 April 1962”).
Feel the passion of Renato Guttuso in this beautiful 1954 drawing where flowers become a metaphor for life and human emotion. Executed with precision the flowers in black ink or graphite are a hallmark of Guttuso’s post war style where realism meets politics and poetry.
Far from a floral still life this piece has deep personal and historical significance. The handwritten dedication and signature by Guttuso himself and the inscription “Roma 15. VIII. 54” anchor the drawing in a specific moment – post war Italy. On the back a Polish annotation dated 1962 hints at the journey and personal connections of the piece. Given directly by the artist to the grandfather of the current owner this drawing is both an artistic and biographical relic.
Guttuso was a key figure of Italian neorealism and resistance art, he put narrative power in every line. This rare piece – dedicated, signed and dated – is not just an artwork but a cultural object. Its museum quality and direct inscription make it a treasure and a piece of 20th century history.
Provenance
This drawing was gifted directly by Renato Guttuso to the grandfather of the current owner, a personal dedication that reinforces its authenticity and historical resonance. The inscription “A Julius Starzinsky ricordo del nostro amico” serves not only as a mark of friendship, but also as a testament to the artwork’s traceable and meaningful provenance.
The current owner intends to use the funds obtained from the sale of the works for the rehabilitation treatment of his 15 years old Son Adam Starzyński (who was born with a genetic defect and can only move in a wheelchair, more info about Adam: https://dzieciom.pl/podopieczni/15771).
Condition
Good condition for its age. The drawing is well-preserved with no visible damage to the artwork itself. Minor signs of age on the paper edges and reverse, consistent with handling and archival storage. Frame in good condition with light wear.
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Renato Guttuso was one of the most influential Italian painters of the 20th century, known for his emotionally charged, politically engaged works that bridged realism and expressionism. Born in Bagheria, Sicily, Guttuso grew up surrounded by the vibrant landscapes and tensions of Southern Italy—a duality that would deeply inform his artistic vision. In the 1930s and 1940s, his paintings took on bold themes of anti-fascism, social injustice, and human dignity, often portraying workers, peasants, and war-torn subjects with visceral color and dynamic form.
A central figure in the Italian neorealist movement, Guttuso’s work evolved across mediums—from painting and drawing to set design and illustration—always maintaining a commitment to truth and humanity. He was closely associated with the Italian Communist Party and used his art as a vehicle for ideological resistance during Mussolini’s regime. His legacy is one of integrity and intensity: a painter who never shied away from history, and whose canvases remain a testament to the political power of art.
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