Mosaics of the Italico Courtyard, Angelo Canevari, Forlì

The mosaics of the Italico courtyard at the former Aeronautical College in Forlì are the work of Angelo Canevari (1901–1955), a painter, illustrator, set designer and mosaicist from Viterbo. Canevari designed these wall mosaics to narrate the history of flight, integrating them into the architectural scheme of the college’s courtyard.

Canevari emerged in 1923 as an illustrator for the Viterbo-based weekly publication La Rocca. He became known as a Futurist painter and earned recognition for his extensive mosaic commissions on major Italian public buildings. Beyond Forlì, his mosaics adorn the Foro Italico in Rome, where he contributed works to the covered swimming pool, the House of Arms, and the Piazzale dell’Impero. He also executed mosaics for the workers’ theatre of the tobacco manufactory (now Cinema Nuovo Sacher).

About Angelo Canevari

Angelo Canevari came from an artistic family: his father Enrico was a painter, and his brother Silvio created sculptures for the Foro Italico. Canevari worked across multiple media—painting, illustration, scenography and mosaic—establishing himself as a significant figure in early-to-mid twentieth-century Italian visual culture.

Details

Creator: Angelo Canevari (Viterbo, 1901–Rome, 1955)
Location: Former Aeronautical College, Forlì, Emilia-Romagna
Medium: Wall mosaics
Subject: History of flight
Movement: Futurism

Frequently asked questions

Who created these mosaics?

Angelo Canevari, an Italian Futurist painter, illustrator and mosaicist born in Viterbo in 1901, designed the mosaics for the courtyard of the former Aeronautical College.

What do the mosaics depict?

The mosaics illustrate the history of flight through wall designs integrated into the Italico courtyard of the college building.

Where else did Canevari work?

Canevari was commissioned for major public mosaics at the Foro Italico in Rome, including works for the covered swimming pool, the House of Arms, and the Piazzale dell’Impero, as well as the workers’ theatre of a tobacco manufactory.

Sources

Angelo Canevari — Wikipedia