Roberto Almagno and the Ancient. Early works

The exhibition Roberto Almagno and the Ancient. Early Works, organized by the Regional Directorate National Museums Lazio, headed by Elisabetta Scungio, and the Municipality of Aquino, is part of the celebrations in honor of St. Thomas (2023 canonization, 2024 death, 2025 birth) as a tribute to the figure of the great philosopher in the place named after him. The one dedicated to Roberto Almagno is the first ever exhibition hosted inside the House of St. Thomas, and the works on display themselves are presented to the public for the first time.

The stone bust of St. Thomas Aquinas, executed by Roberto Almagno in his youth and initially intended for the City of Aquino (where the artist was born in 1954), is the centerpiece of the exhibition project. Its placement inside the House is a sort of return to the origins for the work, but also for the artist himself, who, precisely in the ancient village, spent his childhood and learned the first rudiments of iron and woodworking. The forge of his grandfather and father, both blacksmiths, was located inside the same building that now houses the House of St. Thomas.

In order to better frame the artist's early period, three other works made in the same short span of time are exhibited along with the bust, bearing witness to the fact that Roberto Almagno's early production was mainly focused on stone working. In fact, the sculptures show close similarities, both in the way of working the material and in the unique choice of stone. Almagno matured early on the decision to deal with humble materials, such as iron and wood (his uncle was a carpenter), transferring the same physical labor necessary for the oldest trades of man to stone working in particular. Sculpture has been his favorite art form, the one with which over the years he has experimented with many different types of techniques and materials, often assembled in unusual combinations. The theme of theAncient to which the title of the exhibition alludes, is to be interpreted not so much in the classical sense of the term, but as a reference to the ancestral solemnity that the artist's labor and bodily involvement confer on stone.

Inauguration: June 30, 11:00 a.m.

Place: House of St. Thomas, Via San Costanzo - Aquino (FR)

Openings: Thursday through Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m./ 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On the remaining days by appointment only. Free admission

Operational support: Associazione Proloco Aquino APS

Information and reservations: drm-laz.aquino@cultura.gov.it; tel . +39 328 8092204