THINKING ABOUT MORANDI

Giorgio Morandi Natura Morta, 1960



Whenever I see a group of bottles together I think about Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964). He spent his life painting a variety of bottles and objects he had in his studio, located in the centuries old house in Bologna that he shared with his three sisters. They lived a comfortable and cosmopolitan life, entertained a good deal, and none of them ever married. He studied the work of Paul Cezanne and Jean-Simeon Chardin and was very much influenced by them. He was considered by many the greatest Italian painter of his time, and has been an influence on many artists who came after him.



Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) Apples and Biscuits, 1879-82



Jean-Simeon Chardin (1699-1779) Water Glass and Jug, 1760



Photo in Morandi's Studio



Kirsten Coelho is an artist who shows her work at the Matin Gallery in Culver City. They are perfectly pure forms, with oxidation that gives a sense of age. These look as though they came from one of Morandi's paintings.



Morandi Natura Morta, 1951



Gwyn Hanssen Pigott An Australian potter, who has certainly thought about Morandi.



Cy Twombly Still Life, Black Mountain College, 1951



Nicolas De Stael (1914-1955) Nature Morte, 1955



Giorgio Morandi Natura Morta, 1916



Frances Palmer, a potter living in Weston, Connecticut, who has a line of pieces made from old molds, as well as a handmade line. I found this on Remodelista.



Giorgio Morandi Natura Morta, 1931



Constance Spry (1886-1960), Florist, Author, and Social Reformer! I love this piece. I saw a number of her pieces a few years ago at Gordon Watson in London and thought they were wonderful.



Andrew Lord I really enjoy his groupings of objects. He's thought about Morandi too.



Giorgio Morandi Natura Morta, 1955



Simon Pearce Pitchers via Remodelista. The clean lines of these pitchers are lovely. They have the simple forms of Morandi's objects.



Photo of Morandi's Studio and his Collection of Bottles