This content was automatically translated. View the original text.
Fondazione Umberto Mastroianni (Umberto Mastroianni Foundation): Monumental Sculptures in the Castle of King Ladislaus
The Umberto Mastroianni Foundation is housed in the Castle of Ladislaus, on the hill of Civita Falconara in Arpino, in the province of Frosinone. It is the largest public collection dedicated to Umberto Mastroianni, one of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century, born in Fontana Liri in 1910 and honorary citizen of Arpino. In 1992, Mastroianni donated 81 works tracing his artistic journey: from the classical studies of the 1920s to the abstract plastic dynamism of the monumental sculptures that brought him international renown.
The Castle and Its History
The castle takes its name from Ladislaus of Anjou-Durazzo, King of Naples, who in 1409 used it as a base to defend the northern borders of his kingdom. The oldest sections date back to the 13th century. In 1985, the Province of Frosinone acquired the castle, and following restoration it became the seat of the Foundation.
The Collections
The exhibition follows the evolution of the artist. In the garden, several sculptures enter into dialogue with the landscape of Ciociaria. Inside, drawings and maquettes illustrate how the final form came into being: from paper to plaster, from plaster to bronze. The monumental sculptures evoke enormous industrial gears, the hallmark of his mature style. The collection also preserves the photo-sculptures by Domenico Mastroianni, Umberto's uncle and mentor.
