On the occasion of the extraordinary opening of the Bandita during the FAI days, Tarquinia pays homage to Matta and on 14 October at 5 p.m. presents, in the council chamber of the municipality, a precious volume containing and recounting the correspondence between Matta and his friend and gallery owner Luisa Laureati. Published by Treccani and edited by Marco Filoni, it is a small masterpiece created with shared commitment, enthusiasm and passion.

Luisa Laureati has been one of the protagonists of the Roman intellectual scene since 1965, when her bookshop L'Oca became a favourite meeting place for intellectuals, poets and writers such as Moravia, Ungaretti, Morante, Pasolini, Parise and Flaiano. In 1967, the bookshop was transformed into the famous Galleria dell'Oca, frequented by Matta, Kounellis, Paolini, Carol Rama, Novelli and Mattiacci and the venue for important exhibitions of great 20th-century artists: De Pisis, Morandi and Guttuso, among many others, exhibited there. Laureati shared her passion and journey with her husband, art historian Giuliano Briganti.

What this book offers is an intimate, domestic portrait of Matta, which is enriched with nuances as you leaf through the letters, cards and postcards sent to Luisa Laureati - who was Matta's first representative in Italy, then a lifelong friend and confidante. Thanks to the astonishing drawings, improvised sketches, original illustrations - sometimes hints, other times real works conceived for the recipient - with which he adorned both the correspondence and the more extemporary communications, we thus discover the artist in his everyday life, the unknown sides of his character, his relationship with women and money, his little foibles, his generosity. The volume opens with a touching introduction by Luisa Laureati - who recalls the origins of a friendship that marked his human and professional career and takes us back to the cultural and artistic climate of the time - followed by an interview by Antonio Gnoli with an incredibly lucid and brilliant ninety-year-old Matta. An essay by Giulia Lotti and, in closing, an autobiography of the artist complete the volume. Finally, a special contribution by Giuliano Briganti, art historian, Luisa's husband, who was Matta's friend and acute critic.

“The letters contained in this volume are the story of our pact at the time and of our relationship, which lasted until his death on 23 November 2002: the beginning of my work and life as a dealer, a beautiful life that I have never regretted.”

Luisa Laureati