Domenico Purificato biography

Domenico Purificato, born on March 14, 1915, in Fondi, in the province of Latina, was a prominent Italian painter. After completing his classical high school diploma, Purificato decided to dedicate himself to painting, while continuing his studies in law. In 1934 he moved to Rome, where he met his fellow townsman Libero de Libero. This meeting proved fundamental, as De Libero introduced Purificato to the artistic circles of the capital, particularly the Roman School.
Purificato exhibited for the first time in 1936 at the Galleria La Cometa in Rome. During the 1940s and 1950s, he became a leading figure of neorealism, capturing in his artworks common people and scenes of everyday life, with particular attention to the people of southern Italy and their living conditions. In 1942, he participated in the X Exhibition of the Fascist Syndicate of Professionals and Artists, winning an award dedicated to emerging young painters.
From 1940 to 1943, Purificato worked as an editor for the magazine "Cinema" and, from July 25, 1943, he also became its editor-in-chief, replacing Vittorio Mussolini. His collaboration with the magazine ended at the end of 1943 due to wartime events. In 1956, he collaborated with the neorealist director Giuseppe De Santis for the film "Giorni d'amore," overseeing color study, set design, and costumes.
Purificato participated in numerous editions of the Quadriennale di Roma (from 1943 to 1965) and the Venice Biennale (from 1948 to 1954). Moreover, in 1953, he was among the protagonists of the figurative arts exhibition "Art in the Life of Southern Italy", held at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, with the artwork "Memory of Ciociaria".
His artistic activity was not limited to painting: Purificato was also an author of essays and literary works. Among his best-known writings are "Italian Nineteenth-Century Painting" (1959), "The Colors of Rome" (1965), "Callimaco, a Painting for Man" (1971), and "How to Read a Painting" (1985), published posthumously. At the same time, he contributed to the artistic debate by collaborating with magazines such as "Maestrale," "Rinascita," and "La Fiera Letteraria," and directed the monthly "Figura".
In 1972, Purificato was appointed director of the Brera Academy in Milan, a position he held until 1980. During this period, he continued to paint and exhibit his artworks, which achieved great success. Among the most important exhibitions were those organized at the Palazzo Reale in Milan in 1974, Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome in 1983, and Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara in 1984.
Purificato maintained a strong connection with his homeland, Ciociaria, participating in various cultural initiatives in the region. In 1962, he was part of the examining commission for the exhibition "Ciociaria Presents You" in Rome, and in 1963 he was a member of the jury for the "Painting in Ciociaria" competition at the Abbey of Casamari, chaired by Giorgio De Chirico.
His artistic research was characterized by the investigation of the visceral relationship, timeless, often conflicting, between man, his land, nature, and the animal world, as well as the gap between nature and progress. In the last thirty years of his life, Purificato moved beyond social realism, exploring themes such as the solitude of man and woman, their desire for tenderness, and the awareness of life's transience.
Purificato was also a set designer and costume designer for the theater. In 1970, he created the set and costumes for the ballet "Petrouchka" by Igor Stravinsky, performed at the Rome Opera House. Additionally, he designed a mosaic for the lunette of the medieval cathedral of Fondi.
Throughout his career, Purificato received numerous awards, and his artworks became part of important public and private collections. Among the prizes established in his honor is the Fondi "La Pastora" Award for dramaturgy and performance.
Domenico Purificato died in Rome on November 6, 1984, at the age of 69, following a stroke. In his honor, a school in Rome and the stadium in Fondi bear his name, testifying to the lasting impact he had on the world of Italian art and culture.