50° Incontro Nazionale Madonnari

08/15/2024

The 50th edition of the National Gathering of Madonnari in Grazie di Curtatone marked a special milestone by blending the tradition of street art with one of the greatest masterpieces of world literature: Dante’s Divine Comedy. For the first time, the artists were asked to work on a shared theme, inspired by the three realms of Dante’s journey – Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise – creating a symbolic link between the spiritual pilgrimage to the sanctuary and the poet’s visionary voyage through the afterlife.

The madonnari, long known for their creative freedom, embraced this “commissioned” challenge, producing a visual narrative that combined the evocative power of Gustav Doré’s iconic illustrations with fresh, personal interpretations. Each work, created with traditional chalks directly on the pavement, allowed the public to witness not only the final result but also the artistic process, turning the square into an open-air workshop.

The overall quality of the works was considered outstanding, confirming the vitality of an art form as fleeting as it is fascinating. On this anniversary, the Fiera delle Grazie reaffirmed its role as a bridge between faith, culture, and creativity, while showcasing the ability of the madonnari to move audiences and reinterpret great universal themes through their unique artistic language.

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Elide Pizzi - Narrator of the Ancient Fair of Grazie
Today is 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, so I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone watching us right now a very happy Feast of the Assumption and good health. Come here to our fair because it is a wonderful place, despite the two or three drops of rain that fell last night, but we did not give up and we found beautiful and good things. So thank you for that, happy Feast of the Assumption and good health to all.

Fabrizio Binacchi - President of the Inferno jury
The theme of hell is a wonderful challenge for street artists, especially here in the square in front of the Santuario delle Grazie. Thank you, hell, well, it's something to think about, but I've already seen that both amateurs and masters are working hard, especially on the faces of Dante, Virgil and the gate, which appears frequently, the gate of Hell. It will be a wonderful edition of challenge and creativity.
Stefano Scansani - President of the Purgatorio jury
This time, the madonnari are working on commission, which means they have a theme related to their wildness, in the sense that they are characters who do not allow themselves to be swayed by themes, topics and suggestions, but this time they have allowed themselves to be persuaded. In my case, since I chair this segment of the jury from Purgatory, which is a middle ground, it is about transformation, it is about waiting to reach Paradise, hopefully in the near future. I would say that the quality is excellent. I see that there is a strong connection with the typical iconography that comes from Gustav Doré, which is Dantean, but there is also a lot of free interpretation. The madonnaro cannot do it, he remains himself and acts wild even though he is in Purgatory.
Kurt Wenner - President of the three juries
Thank you, it's home to me, that is, every time I come here, I am overwhelmed and memories full of emotion come flooding back, and that never changes. The beautiful works are already there and have survived the rain quite well, I'm happy about that. I already took a look around early this morning, but obviously with the weather being quite dramatic, there were signs to see. Now I'm going to see the more extensively finished works. The result of having a task was positive, the artists are more organised, and I don't see how it limited their way of expressing themselves. I think the idea of having a theme is something to be repeated.
Marco Busca - Bishop of Mantova
They are all very talented, and we are very grateful to them for allowing us to see something of the Divine Comedy through their works. They kneel under the sun and work hard so that we can admire, marvel at and even reflect on their works, and so we are truly grateful to them because without them, the Fair of Graces would no longer exist. For 50 years, they have filled it with colours, messages and presences. We also want to remember all the madonnari who have already passed away and who watch their colleagues working from above. In fact, the bell and the touch remind us of all those who have contributed to this festival of the Graces through the work of the madonnari. Thank you all, happy Assumption, happy Ferragosto, a wise rest to all, knowing how to enjoy the simple things that are the most beautiful and make us more like God.

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A timeless masterpiece, the Divine Comedy, inspired the fiftieth edition of the national gathering of Madonnari artists in Grazie di Curtatone. The artists' works created an ideal link between the journey of the pilgrims who visit the village every year and Dante's journey through the three realms of the afterlife, giving life to a visual narrative that spans the centuries.
Carlo Bottani - Mayor of Curtatone
For the first time in history, the Divine Comedy, the three canticles, Paradise, Purgatory and Hell, represented in a single work on the Sagrato delle Grazie.
Emmeline - Madonnara
At the end of Purgatory, Dante is searching for Beatrice, who is waiting in Purgatory.
Jose - Madonnaro
Dante and Virgil are crossing the wall of fire to reach the entrance to Paradise.
Reyes - Messico
I am doing Gustiziano and the Golden Eagle.
Francesco - Madonnaro
Beatrice explains the spots on the moon to Dante. Dante was convinced that they were areas of varying intensity on the moon, but Beatrice explains them to him in a slightly more metaphysical way.
Francesco - Madonnaro
It is the sin of envy and it is sàpia or sapìa, it is the name of the woman I am making.
Tania - Madonnara
In his hands he holds a small crystal bottle, which refers to the fragility of these ongoing conflicts of war, and this is the metaphor.
Tiziana - Madonnara
Dante, Beatrice and Pietro. And Pietro is extremely angry with the earth.
Giovanni - Madonnaro
When Dante met the leader of the Carolingian kings.
Carlo - Madonnaro
The meeting between Dante and Beatrice with Saint Pier Damiano.
Marta - Madonnara
It is the last canto that leads to Paradise, so Dante takes this purifying bath in order to gain access to the Celestial Vault.
Kanako - Madonnara
This is a maze of a scene where an angel says that people are happy without anger, so I drew the angel who is there even though you cannot see him, and the bird that created the wind in front of him.
Ghislaine - Madonnara
It is a labyrinth where people are thrown as sacrifices.
Carlo Bottani - Mayor of Curtatone
Grazie is a special place in our hearts precisely because there is a unique chemistry, some would say. It is art, spirituality, nature. It is the world capital of madonnara art, the cradle of madonnara art worldwide. Only here can madonnari be promoted from simple madonnari to qualified madonnari to master madonnari.
Paolo Bertelli - Art historian
Madonnara art has ancient origins, yet at the same time very recent ones. Ancient because the name itself recalls the painters of Madonnas, especially those from the Veneto-Cretan area. We go back at least five centuries with these devotional images, which are sometimes a little restrained in their pictorial style.
In reality, street artists, these street painters we see and are accustomed to seeing, took on this name more or less starting in 1973 when the Grazie competition began. However, we do not have many previous records, in the sense that they have always existed.
Certainly, over the centuries, there were those who painted or drew in front of churches or in city centres, but we do not have much evidence of this. This is not the case, for example, in the Anglo-Saxon world, where we certainly find more examples. We all remember what Bert does in Mary Poppins when he is painting and then Mary Poppins appears and together they jump into one of the pictures he has painted on the floor to dance.
Kurt Wenner - Presidente of jury
The madonnaro is someone who shows his creative process in front of an audience. So, in part, he is a visual artist and, in part, he tells a story and also demonstrates his technique so that the audience can see the artist's imagination come to life.
Mariano - Madonnaro
Thank you, it is important for Madonnari, who are the Italian version of street artists, because it is the biggest gathering in a very important sanctuary that is obviously dedicated to the Madonna, who gives our activity its name and identifies us in this role. For us Madonnari, the annual meeting is truly a moment like a birthday, a recurrence, a confirmation of what has happened, a chance to review what has happened during the year, not only in Italy, of course, but also in the various meetings that are taking place throughout Europe.
Emanuela - Madonnara
For me, it represents a wonderful opportunity to meet friends, people who are part of an artistic journey but also a journey of friendship. For me, it is a moment of great freedom in which I truly free myself from many constraints, many things related to everyday life, and I finally feel free to express art for the public and therefore appreciate the closeness with people.
Francesco - Madonnaro
I love drawing, then on the floor like a child, where this time no one can punish you or tell you not to do it.
Michela - Madonnara
I practically grew up with Grazie, so this fiftieth anniversary is a particularly important celebration for me. Meeting old and new friends, the opportunity to paint in this churchyard that nurtured me on my path, my artistic journey from a young age.
Mariangela - Madonnara
It is a unique event, so we try to keep this tradition of madonnara art alive. Not only for the competition, but also for the chance to meet up with all our friends.
Greta - Italia
There is a truly magical atmosphere here, and the people watching our work are so warm and welcoming. It is a real honour, a privilege. I always say that it is a privilege for us to be here expressing our art, our way of being.
I'll just say this: I haven't framed anything, not even my degree, but I did frame the newspaper page with “Maestra Madonnara” written on it, because it was something I never expected, but it made me a very happy person, coming here since I was a child.
Paolo Bertelli - Art historian
Borgo di Grazie has always been considered the capital of madonnara art for a whole series of special events. Of course, we have the sanctuary, we have the crocodile, we have the food and wine, and the natural environment that make this place extraordinary. But above all, since 1973, this area has been home to the competition, the national gathering of Madonnari, which is the oldest festival of its kind in the world.
It was born from the imagination of Maria Grazia Frinquellini, Gilberto Boschesi and Romeo Nicoli, who, with the help of professionals such as Enzo Tortora, whom we all remember, first created a gathering that saw 10-12 participants but has since become a global reference point. Today, we have 150-160 Madonnari coming from all over the world, from young people who want to test themselves to high-level artists who want to try their hand at translating their skills into a popular and ephemeral art form, which is what matters. A special feature is that the street art created in Grazie is truly Madonnara art, precisely because the festival takes place on 15 August, the feast of the Assumption, and all the works of art displayed on the churchyard of the sanctuary must have a sacred subject, preferably dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Denise Kowal - Organiser of the Sarasota Chalk Festival
We are here because, for us, Grazie is the most important competition in the world. This competition has helped preserve this art form like no other event, and it is something that all artists aspire to participate in, even though it is incredibly difficult. These poor artists have had to endure the incredible heat and rain, but it is important for them to be here.
Robert Allegrini - President of National Italian American Foundation
Look, there is street art in the United States, but nothing like this. In my opinion, this is the only one in the world, which is why I feel so proud that it is happening here in Italy.