Mario Luzi - FB

Mario Luzi at the II Florence Biennale

Mario Luzi was an esteemed Italian writer and poet who received several nominations for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Among his many works, those particularly relevant to the art world are his essays and writings on art. In addition, there is an interesting production that combines Luzi's poems with some artistic productions.

During the second edition of the Florence Biennale, on the occasion of which he received the International "Lorenzo il Magnifico" Award for Culture, the writer gave a lecture for the presentation of his book Luzi Critico d'Arte.

Literary training and poetry collections

Mario Luzi was born in Castello in the province of Florence in 1914. He graduated in French literature with a thesis on Mauriac. In 1935 he began to collaborate with Frontespizio, Bargellini's magazine, and later with the magazines Letteratura and Campo di Marte. It was Frontespizio that outlined the first instances of hermeticism in Florence in the 1930s, which saw the presence of many illustrious authors including Montale, Vittorini, Landolfi, Bo, Gatto, Contini and Pratolini.

His first collection, La Barca, dates back to 1935 and was followed by Avvento notturno, Quaderno Gotico, Primizie del deserto, Onore del vero, Il giusto della vita, Nel magma (which marked Luzi's passage from poet as "voice" to poet as "person"), Dal fondo delle campagne, Su fondamenti invisibili, Al fuoco della controversia, Semiserie, Il silenzio, La voce, Per il battesimo dei nostri frammenti, Viaggio terrestre e celeste di Simone Martini, to name just a few of his poetry collections.

Mario Luzi also carried out an intense activity as a translator, critic and essayist. He was not only a leading figure on the Italian cultural scene, but was also known and appreciated abroad.

In 2004, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, he was appointed life senator of the Italian Republic after being nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature.
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