Carlo Pittara: the rediscovery of the Saluzzo Fair : horses, costumes and residences

Abstract

The large canvas Fiera di Saluzzo (sec. XVII) (The Saluzzo Fair [17th Century]) that Carlo Pittara painted for the 4th National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Turin in 1880 represents a unique element in the painter's production and, in some respects, in the history of 19th-century painting: not only for its exceptional dimensions - the canvas is over four meters high and more than eight long - but also for the stimuli it offers to understand lesser known aspects of the figurative culture of the time.0The essay gathered in this volume recostruct its history for the first time and offer a broad and multifaceted reading, enriched by new evidence on the biographical profile of Carlo Pittara. The analysis dedicated to the Fiera di Saluzzo (Saluzzo Fair) allows not only to identify the buildings and monuments of Saluzzo, but also to appreciate the fashion and customs of the characters depicted. Particular attention is paid to the different animal species represented, which have been inquired thanks to the close collaboration of the Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Turin.