An Artist in Rome
Augusto Ranocchi, Renaissance
Man
"Although I have in the past
decried the lack of classic modern art in Rome (see Letters
from Italy: Modern Art in Rome), you'd never know it from
seeing the work of Augusto Ranocchi. Augusto comes from
Urbino, in the Marche, which was the home of Raphael, and
although to my knowledge they are not related, it is clear
that Augusto profited from having breathed the same air
as his Renaissance predecessor, because when you look at
his work you think, "true artist." The first thing that
comes to mind is his versatility. Whether he is working
on canvas, in ceramics, on bronze or wood or marble, Augusto
leaves his mark. His latest abstract paintings, combining
yellows and greens in striking geometric patterns, fixes
your gaze and keeps it for a long, long time. And I marveled
also in the way Augusto can turn an ordinary wine pitcher
into something more than an a mere adornment, a piece of
sculpture that in this case completely took over a table
of delicacies and made it look like it had been arranged
by a master.
Augusto Rannochi, artist
And speaking of eating, Augusto's
talents extend past the canvas and the other materials and
make their way into the kitchen. He recently prepared a
lunch for us one gorgeous spring Sunday that also reflected
his native Urbino, making -- in addition to a variety of
other dishes, including roasted lamb -- a soup that comes
from his region the Marche called Passatelli in brodo di
gallina. It consists of simple chicken broth and homemade
pellet-like pastas, which are made from farina, bread crumbs,
egg, and grated lemon rind and nutmeg. It was something
I had never before eaten in Italy but hope, now that I know
about it, to do so very soon. Having lived and worked in
Los Angeles for five years, Augusto has lots of contacts
there and is now firing up bronze doors -- like his Roman
artistic predecessors of old -- that will be placed in a
spacious home overlooking the Pacific in Malibu. When I
once watched his eyes glaze over as he talked about being
in Carrara looking for the right marble -- as Michelangelo
once did -- for a now-finished project, it was absolutely
clear to me that he is the closest thing to a Renaissance
man as I've ever met."