The exhibition is part of the Festival “Via Margutta, art, location, a mystery unveiled”, following the birth centenary of the sculptor Nino Franchina (1912-1987). His original studio in Via Margutta 51A where, after the second World War, even Gino Severini worked for a short period is recreated almost identical in one of the gallery spaces, displaying all the original objects and tools that the artist actually had in his studio. The exhibition shows some important sculptures of Nino Franchina (Griglia Sandro, del 1967, Uccello di fuoco del 1960, Ommeno del 1965, un Libro di ferro del 1984) and some other drawings and original lithography of both Severini and Frachina. In conclusion vintage photos portraying the two artists working in the studio along with the old objects and artistic tools contribute to recreate the same original atmosphere of the studio.
The original studio of Severini and Franchina is one of the very last via Margutta artist atelier and it is still perfectly preserved as it was. The studio became at the end of the 1950s a reference point for all the artists, intellectuals and movie directors who worked in Rome or simply passed through it. Three generations of artists used to frequent the studio that became place of numerous exchanges and of cultural confrontation. Among the artists: Alexander Calder, Emilio Vedova, Mario Mafai, Alberto Burri, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Renato Guttuso, Giulio Turcato, Pericle Fazzini, David Smith, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Mario Schifano, Franco Angeli and many others.
From the sculptor’s death in 1987 the studio became seat of Severini -Franchina Archive, guarded by family heirs in order to preserve as much as possible the original place.