The ISIA’s artistic teaching was divided into several disciplines: one of the best known and among those that have left an important group of works in the Musei Civici is undoubtedly that of ceramic art. The class for ceramists was taught by two masters of great experience and ability: Karl Walter Posern and Virgilio Ferraresso, one as skilled in colour techniques as the other was in structural and production techniques.
At their school gifted pupils were trained and destined to leave their mark on the Italian art scene; among the most famous names: Salvatore Fancello, Amato Fumagalli, Giovanni Castiglioni and Umberto Zimelli.
Their works were presented at various official art exhibitions and in particular represented the ISIA’s ceramic production at the Triennial Exhibitions in the 1930s.
Some of these works are presented in this section: bas-reliefs in glazed terracotta by Fancello, Fumagalli and Castiglioni document a particular mode of expression in use at the school, while a graffito amphora and a vase, both by Fancello, highlight his mastery and sensitivity for the material. The variety of educational experiences is evidenced by the four terracotta tiles by Franco Renato Gambarelli, who later became a goldsmith, photographer and multidisciplinary artist.
01: Salvatore Fancello, The Aerostat. Glazed ceramic, 1933-34
02: Salvatore Fancello, Amphora. Glazed ceramic, 1938
03: Salvatore Fancello, Rural works. Bas-relief of glazed ceramic , 1934
04: Salvatore Fancello, Vase with horses. Glazed ceramic, 193/i>
05: Giovanni Castiglioni, The family of the smith. Bas-relief of glazed ceramic, 1934