Artists - Part 80

Adolfo de Karolis

Adolfo de Karolis, also known as de Carolis, (1874-1928) was an Italian artist.

In 1902 he married his favorite model, Lina Ciucci, to the disapproval of his family, which may account for his changing his name from Carolis to Karolis.  Above, a bookplate he designed using his new name.

He taught at the Academia di Belle Arti in Florence, and he revived the art of producing woodcuts.  He produced art in many formats.  He designed bank notes, posters, calendars, postcards, ads, and even product labels.  Above, Sanguine Nude, 1907.

His art was by no means limited to naked males, but he managed to portray quite a few of them.  Above, Sanguine Drawing, 1910.

A poster for the International Exposition of Industries in Turin, 1911.

The Archer, 1917, one of his woodcuts.

Aeroplani Pomilio (Pomilio Airplane), 1918.  I presume this is for an ad.

Motori Gnome e Rhone Torino (Gnome & Rhone Engines, Torino), 1918 is for another ad.

Il Gigante Caduto (The Fallen Giant), 1925.

We end with Dante - I Barattieri, illustrating the barrators in the eighth circle of Hell in Dante's Inferno.  Barrators are corrupt politicians who sell justice or government offices or employment for private profit.  Remind you of anyone in today's news?  Dante's punishment for them was to be immersed in a pool of boiling pitch and speared by devils if they rise above the surface.

Adolfo de Karolis came down with cancer and, after a few years of suffering, died in Rome, aged 54.