20th Century Portraits – The Collections of the Fondazione Bottari Lattes and Beyond

An exhibition dedicated to the 20th-century portrait

From March 29 to May 17, 2026, the exhibition halls of the Fondazione Bottari Lattes in Monforte d'Alba, a village in the Langhe area of the province of Cuneo, will host the exhibition "20th Century Portraits. The Collections of the Fondazione Bottari Lattes and Beyond," curated by Francesco Poli. The exhibition brings together over fifty works—paintings, engravings, and sculptures—that address the theme of portraiture in the 20th century, putting the works of Mario Lattes in dialogue with those of some of the most important masters of the last century.

Artists on display

Alongside Mario Lattes, the exhibition features prominent names of 20th-century Italian art, from the Turin circle to major national figures:

• Felice Casorati, Carol Rama, Carlo Levi, Francesco Menzio
• Jessie Boswell, Daphne Maugham, Nella Marchesini, Mario Reviglione
• Italo Cremona, Luigi Spazzapan, Mario Calandri
• Three sculptures by Giacomo Manzù (a refined female head in wax), Sandro Cherchi, and Mario Giansone

The exhibition path

The exhibition dedicates a specific section to the portraits and self-portraits of Mario Lattes, where the artist's face becomes a field of investigation into his own psychological and existential dimension, oscillating between intimate registers and expressionist, visionary tensions. The dialogue with the works of other masters allows the portrait to be read as a central genre of the century's art, between introspection, formal experimentation, and memory.

The Fondazione Bottari Lattes

Based in the historic village of Monforte d'Alba, the Fondazione Bottari Lattes preserves and promotes the art collection and cultural legacy of Mario Lattes, enriched over the years by Caterina Bottari Lattes. The exhibition is part of the cultural initiatives that enliven the Piedmontese Langhe during the spring and is included in the calendar of Vinum Alba, the international fair of Piedmontese wines.

Practical information

Admission to the exhibition is free and no reservation is required. The halls are open from Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM and from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM; on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. An opportunity to combine a visit to the exhibition with the discovery of the Langhe territory, a UNESCO World Heritage site.