INVENTORY OF THE UMBERTO BOCCIONI PAPERS, 1899-1986

Finding aid prepared by Annette Leddy

Getty Research Institute

Research Library

Special Collections and Visual Resources

1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100

Los Angeles, California 90049-1688

Phone: (310) 440-7390

Fax: (310) 440-7780

Email Requests: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/library/reference_form.html

URL: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/library

J. Paul Getty Trust.

INVENTORY OF THE UMBERTO BOCCIONI PAPERS, 1899-1986

Accession no. 880380

Finding aid prepared by Annette Leddy

Getty Research Institute

Contact Information:

The Getty Research Institute
Research Library
Special Collections and Visual Resources
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California 90049-1688
Phone: (310) 440-7390
Fax: (310) 440-7780
Email Requests: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/library/reference_form.html
URL: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/library/

Processed by:: Annette Leddy
Date Completed:: December 1994, revised Mar 2004
Encoded by:: Philip Curtis, revised by Julio Vera

Descriptive Summary

Title: Umberto Boccioni papers

Date (inclusive): 1899-1986

Collection number: 880380

Creator: Boccioni, Umberto, 1882-1916

Extent: 3 linear feet (5 boxes)

Repository: The Getty Research Institute

Research Library

Special Collections and Visual Resources

1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100

Los Angeles, CA 90049-1688

Abstract: The papers contain manuscripts, correspondence, diaries, photographs, clippings, ephemera, and other material by and about the Futurist artist and theoretician. The collection is especially representative of his Futurist period (1910-1915), and includes a number of essays, most of which were collected in the book, Pittura scultura futuriste (Dinamismo Plastico), as well as a compendium of articles regarding the 1985 show, Boccioni a Venezia.

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Language: Collection material in Italian

Administrative Information

Access

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Publication Rights

Contact Library Rights and Reproductions

Preferred Citation

Umberto Boccioni papers, 1899-1986, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 880380.

Acquisition Information

Acquired 1988

Processing History

The archive was first processed and described in 1988. Annette Leddy re-processed it and wrote a new finding aid and description in December 1994. The following books were consulted: Umberto Boccioni, Opera completa. A cura e con prefazione di F. T. Marinetti, 1927; Umberto Boccioni, Gli scritti editi e inediti. A cura di Zeno Birolli, 1971; Umberto Boccioni, Altri inediti e apparati critici. A cura di Zeno Birolli, 1972.

Biographical/Historical Note

Umberto Boccioni, born in Reggio Calabria in 1882, spent his childhood in Genova, Padova and Catania, and began his artistic career in Rome, where he worked with Giacomo Balla, who was then a Divisionist. In 1902 he went to Paris to study Impressionism and Cubism, traveled to Russia, and spent two years in Padova and Venice. He finally settled in Milan, where he met F.T. Marinetti in 1910 and became a Futurist, authoring, along with Carrà, Russolo, Balla, and Severini, "Manifesto dei pittori futuristi" (1910) and "Manifesto tecnico della pittura futurista" (1910). During the following five years, Boccioni produced what is generally considered Futurism's finest artistic legacy. Where other Futurist artists found a mechanical or formulaic solution to the problem of dynamism, Boccioni sought to portray dynamism as a dimension of consciousness. Thus, in the series "Dinamismi" (1913), or in works such as "Antigrazioso," and "Scomposizione di figure di donne a tavola," the object exists in complex relationship both to its environment and to the viewer's experience of it. He also published a number of theoretical essays about painting and sculpture, collected in the book Pittura scultura futuriste (Dinamismo Plastico) (1914), and traveled to various European cities, organizing Futurist shows and giving lectures. In 1915, he volunteered to serve in the great war and died after falling from his horse during a military drill.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Umberto Boccioni papers consist primarily of handwritten manuscripts from Boccioni's Futurist phase (1910-1915), many of which were collected, often in somewhat different form, in his book, Pittura scultura futuriste (Dinamismo Plastico). The notes and rough draft manuscripts offer a glimpse of Boccioni's compositional method and the evolution of his ideas during his very productive final five years. Most of the correspondence is from this period as well, and is generally from Futurist colleagues to Boccioni, with a few letters from Boccioni or to Marinetti. There are also a number of letters from or between family members, dating from 1899, as well as consolation letters to family members following Boccioni's premature death, with a few letters from the 1950's. Diaries and photographs supplement the papers, offering further evidence of Boccioni's deep commitment to his work. Numerous clippings about Boccioni's work and life emphasize his importance as a 20th c. artist.

Arrangement

The papers are organized in 4 series: Series I: Correspondence, 1899-1917; Series II: Manuscripts, notes and clippings, 1910-1916; Series III: Personal, 1907-1915; Series IV: Printed ephemera, 1912-1986.

Indexing Terms

Subjects

Boccioni, Umberto, 1882-1916.

Architecture—Italy—20th century

Art criticism—History—20th century—Italy

Art, Italian—20th century

Cubism

Futurism (Art)

Italian poetry—20th century

Painting, Italian—20th century

Sculpture, Italian—20th century

World War, 1914-1918—Campaigns—Italy

Genres and Forms of Material

Clippings

Manifestoes

Photographic prints—20th century

Poems

Sketches

Contributors

Aleramo, Sibilla, 1876-1960

Amendola Kühn, Eva, 1880-

Balla, Giacomo, 1871-1958

Buzzi, Paolo, d. 1956

Carrà, Carlo, 1881-1966

Cecchi, Emilio, 1884-1966

Dottori, Gerardo, 1884-

Marinetti, Filippo Tommaso, 1876-1944

Morandi, Giorgio, 1890-1964

Nyst, Ray

Pratella, Francesco Balilla, 1880-1955

Russolo, Luigi

Severini, Gino, 1883-1966

Sironi, Mario, 1885-1961

Sprovieri, Paolo

Walden, Herwarth, 1878-

Titles

Boccioni a Venezia Pittura, scultura futuriste

Series I. Correspondence, 1899-1917

Physical Description: .5 lin. ft. 1 box

Scope and Content Note

A collection of 227 letters. The first set (1-48) are from Boccioni to family members and between family members; in this same set are letters from Marinetti, Cecchi and Russolo to Boccioni and from Boccioni to Cecchi. Remaining correspondence is addressed to Boccioni, with a few letters to Marinetti, and is organized alphabetically by the correspondent's last name. Among the correspondents are the following: Acciaco, Balla, Buzzi, Carrà, Dottori, Morandi, Pratella, Nyst, Severini, Sironi, and H. Walden.

Box 1, Folder 1

Dealer's list of correspondence

Box 1, Folder 2

Items 1-48

Box 1, Folder 3

Items 1-32

Box 1, Folder 4

Items 1-31

Box 1, Folder 5

Items 1-27

Box 1, Folder 6

Items 1-30

Box 1, Folder 7

Items 1-43

Box 1, Folder 8

Items 1-16

Series II. Manuscripts, notes and clippings, 1910-1916, n.d.

Physical Description: 1 lin. ft. 2 boxes

Scope and Content Note

Manuscripts of essays (some "manifestos"), notes, drafts, proofs, clippings, lists, and leaflets and articles (Italian and French periodicals), primarily on art aspects such as futurism, sculpture, and cubism.

Series II.A. Manuscripts, 1910-1916, n.d.

Physical Description: .75 lin. ft.

Scope and Content Note

Approximately two-thirds of the unbound final proof of Boccioni's book, Pittura e Scultura Futuriste, as well as two handwritten drafts of each of the following six essays in Part I of that book: "Perché siamo futuristi," "L'artista di fronte al passato e all'avvenire," "Perché non siamo impressionisti," "Che cosa ci divide dal cubismo," "Fondamento plastico," "Stato d'animo." The remaining fifteen manuscripts by Boccioni are handwritten drafts of pieces that were collected primarily in the manifesto section of the book, often in somewhat different form, including "Pittura Futurista," "Introduzione al Catalogo per la Prima Esposizione," "Sul Divisionismo," and "I Futuristi plagiati in Francia." There are also six poems, written as parole in libertà, and manuscript drafts by Gino Severini, Eva Amendola, and Sibilla Aleramo.

Box 2, Folder 1

BOCCIONI, ET AL, 1914

Scope and Content Note

ms., unbound final proof of book, Pittura, with handwritten corrections, missing seventy-eight pages, including the first, fifth, and sixth chapters and half of the seventh.

Box 2, Folder 2

BOCCIONI, ET AL, 1913-1914

Scope and Content Note

ms., 2 handwritten drafts of six essays from Pittura Scultura Futuriste: "Perché siamo futuristi," "L'artista di fronte al passato e all'avvenire," "Perché non siamo impressionisti," "Che cosa ci divide dal cubismo," "Fondamento plastico," "Stato d'animo."

Box 2, Folder 3

BOCCIONI

Scope and Content Note

ms., 73 handwritten pp., Pittura Futurista, with brief preface.

Box 2, Folder 4

BOCCIONI, 1913

Scope and Content Note

ms., 8 handwritten pp., "Architettura Futurista," manifesto preceded by handwritten title page.

Box 2, Folder 5

BOCCIONI

Scope and Content Note

ms., 19 handwritten pp. on paper of two sizes, "Manifesto Futurista dei Pittori Meridionali," with title page, 1916; ms., 4 small pp., notes; ms., 1 p., about Domenico Morelli.

Box 2, Folder 6

BOCCIONI, 1912

Scope and Content Note

ms., 17 handwritten pp., "Introduzione al Catalogo per la Prima Esposizione," with handwritten title page.

Box 3, Folder 1

BOCCIONI, 1912

Scope and Content Note

ms., 53 handwritten pp., (in handwriting of Decio Cinti?) "Introduzione al Catalogo per la Prima Esposizione," french translation of ms. in Box 2, Folder 6, according to title page dated 1912.

Box 3, Folder 2

BOCCIONI, 1913

Scope and Content Note

ms., 4 handwritten pp., "Prefazione al Catalogo della Prima Esposizione di Scultura;" ms., 14 handwritten pp., second draft of above ms., signed, 1913. Handwritten title page precedes both versions.

Box 3, Folder 3

BOCCIONI, 1912

Scope and Content Note

ms., 106 handwritten pp., "Origines du Futurisme Pictural," (1912 Paris lecture in Decio Cinti's handwriting?).

Box 3, Folder 4

BOCCIONI, n.d. 1910?

Scope and Content Note

ms., 110 handwritten pp., "Sul Divisionismo," with title page.

Box 3, Folder 5

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 6 handwritten pp., "Per l'ignoranza italiana," with handwritten title page on back of last page, signed. (Published in Lacerba, 1913?)

Box 3, Folder 6

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 8 handwritten pp., "Il dinamismo fa proseliti in Francia," with handwritten title page, signed. (A variation published in Lacerba, 1913?).

Box 3, Folder 7

BOCCIONI, April 1913

Scope and Content Note

ms., 18 handwritten pp., "I Futuristi plagiati in Francia," with handwritten title page, signed, April 1913. (A variation published in Lacerba, 1913.)

Box 3, Folder 8

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 7 handwritten pp., "Ricerche sull'Arte di Luigi Russolo," with handwritten title page on back of last page.

Box 3, Folder 9

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 13 handwritten pp., "La pittura futurista," with handwritten title page.

Box 3, Folder 10

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 5 handwritten pp., "Articolo su Funi," with handwritten title page.

Box 3, Folder 11

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 8 handwritten pp., "In Onore del Balla," on Ristorante Cova letterhead with handwritten title page.

Box 3, Folder 12

BOCCIONI, 1913, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 10 handwritten pp., "Scarpatta da società + orina, Parole in Libertà" signed, n.d. (1913?); ms., 2 handwritten p., "C'è nell'aria la paura...," n.d. (1913?); ms., 1 handwritten p., "Entrare-uscire," n.d. (1913?)

Box 3, Folder 13

BOCCIONI, 1913, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 1 handwritten p., "Lettere a rovescio," n.d. (1913?); ms., 4 handwritten p., earlier draft of above ms. on Ristorante Cova letterhead; ms., 2 handwritten pp., "Antracite al sole," n.d. (1913?); ms., 2 handwritten pp. (5 & 6), "Non so se...," n.d. (1913?)

Box 3, Folder 14

SEVERINI, 1911

Scope and Content Note

ms., 60 handwritten pp., "Appunti mandato da Parigi da Gino Severini," about painting, with handwritten title page.

Box 3, Folder 15

SEVERINI

Scope and Content Note

ms., 49 handwritten pp.

Box 3, Folder 16

AMENDOLA, EVA, 1914

Scope and Content Note

30 handwritten pp., "Trattate sintentico sulle tre gradazioni dell'amore sessuale," 1913, signed "Magamal" (pseud.), prefatory inscription to Boccioni dated 1914.

Box 3, Folder 17

ALERAMO, SIBILLA, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 15 handwritten pp., "Il futurismo italiano,"

Box 3, Folder 18

BOCCIONI ET AL, 1910

Scope and Content Note

ms., 3 printed pp. leaflet, "Manifesto tecnico."

Series II.B. Notes and clippings, 1911, n.d.

Physical Description: .25 lin. ft.

Scope and Content Note

Notes and handwritten drafts of a more preliminary nature than those in Series II.A. Some of these bear the same title as pieces finally collected in Boccioni's book, such as "Che cosa ci divide dal cubismo," and "Fondamento plastico della pittura futurista." Articles Boccioni collected about art or literature from French and Italian periodicals and a list of texts and authors he prepared, apparently for a family member, offer evidence of his reading interests.

Box 3, Folder 19

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 18 handwritten pp., notes on Previati.

Box 3, Folder 20

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 17 handwritten pp., about the Italian.

Box 3, Folder 21

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 2 handwritten pp., "Manifesto dei pittori futuristi,"; ms., 2 handwritten pp., "Il pittore futurista,"; 26 pp. of assorted notes.

Box 3, Folder 22

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 80 handwritten pp., "Note per il libro."

Box 3, Folder 23

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 21 small handwritten pp., many odd-sized or crossed out, "Fondamento plastico della pittura futurista, Note," with handwritten title page; another handwritten title page, "Opere in America, S. Franciso," followed by 1 p. list of numbers.

Box 3, Folder 24

BOCCIONI, 1911, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 15 small handwritten pp., "Note per la conferenza tenuta a Roma," with handwritten title page, 1911; 1 small newspaper clipping with paragraph circled.

Box 3, Folder 25

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 6 handwritten pp., "Stati d'animo, Note,"; ms., 6 handwritten pp., "Scultura," with handwritten title page "Manifesto Scultura," enclosing both of above mss.

Box 3, Folder 26

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 15 small handwritten pp., "Scultura," with handwritten title page, many crossed out pages.

Box 3, Folder 27

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 5 handwritten pp., "Scultura," with handwritten title page; newspaper clipping, 1 p., review of "La Scultura Futurista."

Box 3, Folder 28

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 14 small handwritten pp., "Che cosa ci divide dal cubismo, Note," with doodle of face on first page; ms., 3 handwritten pp., on cubism.

Box 3, Folder 29

BOCCIONI, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

ms., 10 small handwritten pp., "Libri da consultare, Bergson," brief exposition of ideas and lists of authors and texts.

Box 3, Folder 30

Miscellaneous articles concerning issues in art and literature from French and Italian periodicals

Series III. Personal, 1907-191

Physical Description: .5 lin. ft. 1 box

Scope and Content Note

Five diaries, one an address book and another a war diary, as well as 17 personal photographs and 18 photographs of Boccioni's painting or sculpture, some of which feature the artist with his work.

Box 4, Folder 1

BOCCIONI, 1912

Scope and Content Note

Diario di Indirizzi, handwritten, bound.

Box 4, Folder 2

BOCCIONI, 1915

Scope and Content Note

Diario di Guerra, 22 handwritten pp.

Box 4, Folder 3

BOCCIONI, 1907

Scope and Content Note

Diario, 24 handwritten pp., signed.

Box 4, Folder 4

BOCCIONI, 1907

Scope and Content Note

Diario, 34 handwritten pp., with drawings.

Box 4, Folder 5

BOCCIONI, 1908

Scope and Content Note

Diario, 49 handwritten pp., with pasted in clippings and reviews of his work.

Box 4, Folder 6

5 personal photographs, n.d.

Box 4, Folder 7

5 personal photographs, n.d.

Box 4, Folder 8

7 personal photographs, n.d.

Box 4, Folder 9

6 art photographs, n.d.

Box 4, Folder 10

5 art photographs, n.d.

Box 4, Folder 11

7 art photographs, n.d.

Series IV. Printed ephemera, 1912-1986

Physical Description: ca. 1 lin. ft. 1 box

Scope and Content Note

One bound compendium of photocopied reviews and articles entitled, "Rassegna Stampa della mostra 'Boccioni a Venezia,'" (1985-1986) and 50 file folders with clippings (1912-1986) about Boccioni's life, his work, and his death.

Box 5*

Reviews, articles, and clippings, 1912-1986

Scope and Content Note

1 bound volume, "Rassegna Stampa della mostra 'Boccioni a Venezia,'" a compendium of photocopied articles reviewing the 1985-1986 exhibition; 50 file folders contain newspaper clippings (1912-1986) about Boccioni's life, his work, and his death.

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