S.A.M. #7: Aerofuturism:

Untitled geometric by Angelo Maino. 1925

Night Airship by RAM (Ruggero Alfredo Michahelles). 1927

Schneider Cup over Venice by Tato. 1927

The manifesto was just a new impulse for an already existing movement. Let’s just see some paintings, so bright and vivid:

Flight Over the Countryside by Giulio D'Anna. 1929

Untitled by Thayaht (Ernesto Michahelles, RAM’s brother). 1934

Untitled by Fillia. c. 1934

Air Paradise by Mino Delle Site, 1935

Air Battle by Renato Righetti (Di Bosso). 1936

The most important contribution to aeropittura was made by Tullio Crali, an artist-pilot who definitely deserves a special article. He is often called “the last of Futurists”. Crali created In tuffo sulla citta (usually translated as Diving into the City), a widely known Dieselpunk icon:

as well as no less impressive Before the Parachute Opens:

You can see more Crali paintings here.

Don’t forget that Aero Painting, being an integral part of Italian Futurism, glorified war and Fascism. Here are two paintings by A.G. Ambrosi:

Bombing in Oriental Africa. 1936

Aero Portrait of Benito Mussolini the Aviator, c. 1930

No wonder aeropittura nearly seized to exist after WWII. But today more and more people around the globe admire the work of “flying Futurists”. And frankly, rectified from its political aura, it’s worth admiration.

Headline picture: Mino Delle Site, Illuminated Pilot. 1932

Special thanks to mid-centuria.com