(Perugia 1884–1977)
Ritmi astrali, no. 2, signed and dated Dottori 1920, verso label of the Archivio Dottori, Perugia and no. 2181, oil on canvas, 52 x 63.5 cm, framed, (PP)

Photo certificate:
Archivi Gerardo Dottori, Massimo Duranti, Perugia, no. 2181

Provenance:
Private Collection, Italy

The motif depicted in the present work reiterates the theme of the Ritmi astrali, with which the artist was preoccupied from 1916 onwards, and as part of which he devised visual effects similar to those developed by Balla during his research of the same period. Dottori created cosmic visions that anticipated later developments in Aeropittura, illustrating his obvious predilection for circular forms and spirals. These forms would represent the principal characteristic of his later works, in many of which the circular shape of a lake features prominently. The Ritmi astrali theme was, however, not developed by Dottori until sometime between 1916 and 1917, as suggested by the work of the same name, dated 1916, tempera on panel (archive no. 112 - full catalogue raisonné, no. 61-112) and by the charcoal drawing, Ritmo astrale (Sipario dinamico) (archive no. 161 - full catalogue raisonné, no. 1757-161), originally created as a study for a theatre curtain and published in 1924 with the title, Sipario dinamico, in a special issue of the journal, NOI which was dedicated to Teatro e Scena Futurista. For this reason, the present work can be regarded as the only extant example of a recouping of the aforementioned motif in the period after 1916. (Massimo Duranti)