Thoughts on Art and Autobiographical Memoirs of Giovanni Duprè

In these candid notebooks the celebrated Italian sculptor shares the rhythms of his later studio life, offering a window into the daily discipline that defined his art—“no day without a line.” He recounts the creation of several notable commissions, from a low-relief of the Baptism of the Lord to a solemn portrait of St. Francis for the Assisi cathedral, describing each piece with the same reverent humility that guided his hand. The entries reveal his deep devotion to religious subjects, his affection for his daughter Amalia, who assisted him in the workshop, and his persistent yearning to capture the sacred in marble.

Beyond the technical details, the memoirs convey a philosophy of perseverance amid physical frailty, as the artist battles recurring illness while yearning to return to the studio. His reflections on unfinished projects and the quiet joy of shaping stone provide a moving portrait of a creator whose joy lay not in fame but in the faithful execution of his craft. Listeners will hear an intimate voice that balances artistic ambition with a serene acceptance of life’s limits.