Palazzo Pistilli - taking pictures

I ended up in Palazzo Pistilli by accident. I did not even know that there was a museo; I was going to take pictures with my camera as a companion when I saw the sign. I bought the ticket and went in.

Palazzo Pistilli art collection was like Royal Palace of Caserta in miniature. There were more than 180 artpieces and the building itself was old and sort of a very well organized labyrinth. While visiting I realized that this art exhibition was someone's private collection and that I actually had met this person. It all became very touching and emotional.

The owner of this collection was a dentist and art collector who painted himself. An artist himself. I met him for the first time very many years ago when I was young and eagerly showing off my knowlegde of art. He was a calm, serious person, very passionate about art. Later on he gave some drawing lessons to my son when my son was about 10 years old. More than lessons there was kind of respectful bond between two persons,different in age,both keen on drawing. My son was admiring his talent and became proud of his own skills since incouraged by someone so important. As a mother I ,of course, was very gratefull for the effort and interest.

He passed away a few years ago and his wife donated his collection to the state of Italy and now it is in Palazzo Pistilli. I find this a significant gesture in a town,which needs more artexperiences and possibilities to create its own artworld.

This is why it turned out to be very personal visit; what art has got to do with life and death. A painting of a cat is his - he gave it to my son when they were drawing together. The one of three persons in a park is from his collection. His name was Michele Praitano.