Clara Serafini: feminine identity between Scapigliatura and solitude
Palazzo Menghini, Via Cesare Battisti, 27 – Castiglione delle Stiviere (MN)
April 5 – July 6, 2025
Opening: Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 5:00 PM
Curated by Gianfranco Ferlisi
The exhibition opening on April 5, 2025, at Palazzo Menghini in Castiglione delle Stiviere, marks a significant event in the rediscovery of Clara Serafini (Milan, 1894 – Castiglione delle Stiviere, 1972), a painter of extraordinary talent. Curated by Gianfranco Ferlisi, the show offers a comprehensive overview of Serafini’s work, highlighting her ability to explore the hidden depths of feminine sensitivity.
As emphasized by Mayor Enrico Volpi, this exhibition is not only a tribute to a leading figure in 20th-century art but also a recognition by a region that has long played a pivotal role in Italian culture. Clara spent her most creative years in Castiglione delle Stiviere, where she retreated from Milan due to personal struggles. Massimo Lucchetti, the Cultural Councillor, notes how Serafini transformed her artistic practice into a tool for investigating her inner world, placing the female experience at the center of her work.
A journey through Clara Serafini ’s Art
Clara’s artistic journey began in the vibrant cultural milieu of Milan’s Scapigliatura movement, where she was influenced by the salon of Countess Clara Maffei. This salon hosted luminaries like Giuseppe Mazzini, Giuseppe Verdi, and Alessandro Manzoni, and it was here that Clara, alongside her mother Velleda, received her early artistic education. Arrigo Boito, the renowned librettist and a key figure in the Scapigliatura, recognized her precocious talent and guided her training under Carlo Mancini before she studied at Brera Academy with Giuseppe Mentessi.
The exhibition showcases Serafini’s exceptional draftsmanship, particularly in her portraits of women, which reveal an intimate, almost diary-like quality. Her works, often executed in pastel and oil, capture the grace and emotional depth of her subjects, transcending mere representation to explore the fragility and resilience of feminine identity. Pieces like Signora sul balcone and Relax reflect her ability to convey both personal and universal aspects of the female condition.
Why Visit?
This exhibition is a rare opportunity to delve into the work of an artist who used her craft to navigate her own struggles and illuminate the complexities of womanhood. It also marks the revival of Palazzo Menghini’s dossier exhibitions, focusing on female artists and enriching the cultural heritage of Castiglione delle Stiviere.
Practical Information
- Dates: April 5 – July 6, 2025
- Opening Hours:
- Friday: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Admission: Free
- Location: Palazzo Menghini, Via Cesare Battisti, 27, Castiglione delle Stiviere (MN)
- Info: Tel. 0376 944061 – infopoint@comune.castiglione.mn.it
- Tourism Office: Tel. 0376 679305-306 – turismo@comune.castiglione.mn.it – www.valorecastiglione.it
Clara Serafini
(Milan, 1894 – Castiglione delle Stiviere, 1972)
Clara (officially named Claudia), a student of Carlo Mancini and Giuseppe Mentessi, was a painter trained in Milan and studied at the Brera Academy. It was there that she met Mariannina Lodrini, a native of Castiglione delle Stiviere (documented in the Gallery). From Milan to Castiglione delle Stiviere, where Clara moved with her mother, their friendship grew stronger and helped the small family integrate into the local community.
Her mother, Velleda, a cultured, refined, and exceptionally beautiful woman, took care of Clara’s early behavioral issues, which worsened over time, eventually leading to mental illness. These struggles deeply affected her life, becoming increasingly evident and a source of growing discomfort. Her artistic career essentially came to a halt in the 1930s (though Clara continued to draw and paint throughout her life). She was also the first person to introduce Danilo Guidetti to the basics of painting in the early post-war years, before he joined the exclusive circle of Oreste Marini.
The portraits and landscapes she created, showcased in her first exhibition at La Permanente, are formally refined and of high quality. However, they were not enough to steer her life toward better prospects. Her mother passed away in 1959. The Finadri family of Castiglione, particularly the late Magda, provided comfort during her final years, which were marked by increasingly frequent health issues.
