Part 2 – Where in the World of Abruzzo
A decade ago our readers provided plenty of suggestions where in the world a painting titled ‘Abruzzo’ was actually located for NY City-based Janice Carpallucci. A decade later she has now sent a portrait, it has the same byzantine campanile in the background, and it’s by one of her relatives Donatus Buongiorno but she’s curious what the sitter is holding or what his profession most likely is, can you help?
Part 1
One of our NY based readers, Janice Carapellucci whose family are originally from Caramanico, bought this painting at auction as it was by another one of her artist relatives, Donatus Buongiorno, who was born in Solofra, Avellino, in 1865, and who lived in Napoli and New York from the 1890s up to his death. During his career, he also worked as a postcard illustrator so if you have any of his work in your vintage postcard collection do contact her as Janice would be interested in buying them!
Titled ‘Abruzzo’ no one has yet been able to identify where it actually is in Abruzzo! The Byzantine-style campanile with the onion dome should be a clue but so far…niente… So we’re looking for a town with a small Baroque chapel that has an architecturally very different, Byzantine style, campanile (which may make it older than the chapel, and/or it may be next to a full church further down the hill which we can’t see) and multiple, terraced roads with retaining walls.
For anyone that can correctly identify the town in question, or knows any other pertinent information about the artist, they will earn a reward! Janice will take them to dinner at the finest restaurant of their choosing when she is in Abruzzo next year!
Come on “Life in Abruzzo,” readers, show us your expertise and get whisked out for a slap-up Abruzzo dinner!
Suggestions….
Katia di Simone from Culturetracks
“The painting “Abruzzo” is based in Venafro (Molise) and it is called Chiesa dell’Annunziata. Once Abruzzo and Molise formed one region hence the reason why the painting is called “Abruzzo”. You can see more photos on the following website“
Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a very lucky midlife 'mamma' to A who is 12 and juggles her work as a self-employed freelance SEO food and travel copywriter and EFL teacher - she is the founder of English in the Woods. She is the founder of the Life In Abruzzo community and co-founder of Let's Blog Abruzzo.
I belive I may have found the town. Just happened to scroll through my newsfeed and found this photo on a post of Tocco e dintoni so the town is Tocco da Casauria. Looks like the tower and church are very similar to the painting. The group of photos is centred around the town’s Saint Eustachio so I believe that is the church in the painting.
Hello Lena
Ooh that’s exciting. I’ll get Janice to see what she thinks and liaise with you!