Giorgio Rossi

Entangled bodies, terracotta sculpture, 1942, Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981).

1939

Enrico Reffo (1831-1917) – Biography Enrico Reffo was an Italian painter devoted to sacred art, active primarily in Turin during the second half of the 19th century. At a time when religious painting was losing favor in the artistic mainstream, Reffo remained committed to a deeply spiritual and meticulously executed style, producing altarpieces, frescoes, and devotional works for churches and religious institutions. Originally trained as a goldsmith, he later studied at the Accademia Albertina, where he developed a precise and academic approach to drawing and composition. Deeply influenced by his strong Catholic faith, he dedicated his career to religious art, often collaborating with the Collegio degli Artigianelli, where he also taught and mentored young artists, including his most trusted pupil and artistic heir, Luigi Guglielmino. His works can be found in numerous churches throughout Piedmont, including the Sanctuary of the Consolata, the Church of San Domenico, and several other notable sites in Turin, Varallo, Novara, and Pinerolo. His artistic legacy reflects a profound sense of devotion, blending refined draftsmanship with a contemplative and mystical atmosphere. Reffo worked in a period of political and social transformation, when the relationship between the Italian State and the Church was marked by tensions following the unification of Italy. Despite this, he remained dedicated to his art, leaving behind an extensive body of preparatory studies and large-scale religious compositions, making him one of the last great sacred painters of 19th-century Italy.