Pasqualina Ferrentino, also known as Belluzza Vergara, was born on May 15th, 1943, in Como, because her father Guglielmo, a captain in the Guardia di Finanza, was in command of the company in Olgiate Comasco. An uncle first called her Belluzza (beauty), perhaps in response to her father calling her "bruttuzza" (ugliness): from then on, everyone knew her by this name. Some of her earliest memories date back to the two years she spent in the North of Italy, even though she was very young, because Belluzza had an astonishing memory, far beyond the ordinary. It was 1945, food was scarce, and the little girl started going to nearby farmers to get a plate of milk and polenta of «unforgettable goodness». She was shy but curious and kind. Her shyness was overcome by her interest in others, which led her to approach people with empathy and curiosity. She could talk to anyone about anything. This came easily to her because she was intelligent and creative, and so she enriched her inner world more and more with her imagination, which, coupled with her extraordinary memory, made it more stable than the real world. At the age of 4, she could already read. Her passion for reading would accompany her for her entire life, along with a natural inclination towards beauty.
Happy years with her grandfather in Pisa
At the end of 1945, her father was transferred to the command of the Pisa Company. Belluzza remained there for seven years, which she remembered as the best years of her life. She spent many summers of her childhood and adolescence in Marina di Pisa and then in Tirrenia, on the coast, where her parents had a villa. Many of her paintings are set in the bathing facility of Tirrenia. With her beloved paternal grandfather, originally from Nocera inferiore (Avellino), she took long walks to the Duomo of Pisa or to the Ponte di Mezzo. The presence of the Leaning Tower in many of her paintings is due to those memories: it is the Pisa of her happy childhood. «I was happy with my grandfather. He passed away when I was 9, and with him, my joy went away; it only returned with Isabella, a playmate». Isabella is her only daughter, born in 1974 and present, albeit transfigured, in many of her paintings. Her grandfather is also present with her in one of her paintings.
At the end of 1945, her father was transferred to the command of the Pisa Company. Belluzza remained there for seven years, which she remembered as the best years of her life. She spent many summers of her childhood and adolescence in Marina di Pisa and then in Tirrenia, on the coast, where her parents had a villa. Many of her paintings are set in the bathing facility of Tirrenia. With her beloved paternal grandfather, originally from Nocera inferiore (Avellino), she took long walks to the Duomo of Pisa or to the Ponte di Mezzo. The presence of the Leaning Tower in many of her paintings is due to those memories: it is the Pisa of her happy childhood. «I was happy with my grandfather. He passed away when I was 9, and with him, my joy went away; it only returned with Isabella, a playmate». Isabella is her only daughter, born in 1974 and present, albeit transfigured, in many of her paintings. Her grandfather is also present with her in one of her paintings.
With grandfather on the terrace (1980).
The first watercolor box
At the end of 1952, her father was transferred to Lecce, in the South of Italy, as deputy commander. It was a bad sign for the family because it meant he would not be promoted and would have to retire young from the service he loved so much. The atmosphere at home was not the best. However, in Lecce, some friends of the family gave the little girl a box of watercolors and everything she needed to paint. Thus, her passion for painting began. Like many teenagers, she wants to pursue theater. She practices in front of the mirror with the poems of Garcia Lorca and Cesare Pavese. In '52, when Vittorio Gasmann brings Hamlet to Lecce, she convinces her father to take her to his dressing room to meet the actor, who was then thirty years old, and she was fascinated by him. She enjoys the idea of impersonating various characters. In '55 she writes to the Silvio d'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome to be admitted to their courses, receiving a positive response. She manages to convince her mother to accompany her, but when they talk to her father, all hell breaks loose. It was the only time she saw him beside himself, shouting that he would never take them back into the house if they dared to leave. The dream fades, but she always remains nostalgic for that adventurous life. Later, seeing the difficult life of old actors, she understood her father's reaction. She returned to Pisa in 1956 and then faced a severe depressive crisis during her teenage years due to difficulties at school, probably due to an undiagnosed dyscalculia disorder, and the family situation with her father retiring at the end of his career, although he would later excel as a tax consultant and accountant. Belluzza was treated with the first psychotropic drugs and innovative psychotherapy sessions by Prof. Sarteschi, the father of Psychiatry in Pisa. However, the experience would leave a mark on her imagination. She will always remember those weeks when friends would come to visit her, and she took advantage of it to have them bring her magazines and cigarettes. She will graduate with a Master's degree and enroll in the Languages faculty, where she will develop a true passion for French literature, particularly for her beloved Proust.
At the end of 1952, her father was transferred to Lecce, in the South of Italy, as deputy commander. It was a bad sign for the family because it meant he would not be promoted and would have to retire young from the service he loved so much. The atmosphere at home was not the best. However, in Lecce, some friends of the family gave the little girl a box of watercolors and everything she needed to paint. Thus, her passion for painting began. Like many teenagers, she wants to pursue theater. She practices in front of the mirror with the poems of Garcia Lorca and Cesare Pavese. In '52, when Vittorio Gasmann brings Hamlet to Lecce, she convinces her father to take her to his dressing room to meet the actor, who was then thirty years old, and she was fascinated by him. She enjoys the idea of impersonating various characters. In '55 she writes to the Silvio d'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome to be admitted to their courses, receiving a positive response. She manages to convince her mother to accompany her, but when they talk to her father, all hell breaks loose. It was the only time she saw him beside himself, shouting that he would never take them back into the house if they dared to leave. The dream fades, but she always remains nostalgic for that adventurous life. Later, seeing the difficult life of old actors, she understood her father's reaction. She returned to Pisa in 1956 and then faced a severe depressive crisis during her teenage years due to difficulties at school, probably due to an undiagnosed dyscalculia disorder, and the family situation with her father retiring at the end of his career, although he would later excel as a tax consultant and accountant. Belluzza was treated with the first psychotropic drugs and innovative psychotherapy sessions by Prof. Sarteschi, the father of Psychiatry in Pisa. However, the experience would leave a mark on her imagination. She will always remember those weeks when friends would come to visit her, and she took advantage of it to have them bring her magazines and cigarettes. She will graduate with a Master's degree and enroll in the Languages faculty, where she will develop a true passion for French literature, particularly for her beloved Proust.
Miss Cinema
She enjoys making caricatures of friends and acquaintances, filling albums with sketches. She loves being in company and organizing pranks on unsuspecting friends. Her beauty no longer goes unnoticed. At sixteen, she is awarded at a beauty pageant. Young people on vacation go dancing at the Tennis Club in Tirrenia, and one evening there's also the jury that must award the prize, choosing among the girls who are dancing. She is chosen, much to the disappointment of many, and that's how she becomes known for her beauty. In 1961, the director and actor Maximilian Schell, in Tirrenia to shoot 'The Condemned of Altona' directed by Vittorio De Sica, becomes fixated on her, and at Mary Beach, she hears his voice calling her 'Belluzza, Belluzza.' He persuades her sister Maria to invite her to a party at the villa where they are staying, and Belluzza goes there after even consulting the parish priest.
She enjoys making caricatures of friends and acquaintances, filling albums with sketches. She loves being in company and organizing pranks on unsuspecting friends. Her beauty no longer goes unnoticed. At sixteen, she is awarded at a beauty pageant. Young people on vacation go dancing at the Tennis Club in Tirrenia, and one evening there's also the jury that must award the prize, choosing among the girls who are dancing. She is chosen, much to the disappointment of many, and that's how she becomes known for her beauty. In 1961, the director and actor Maximilian Schell, in Tirrenia to shoot 'The Condemned of Altona' directed by Vittorio De Sica, becomes fixated on her, and at Mary Beach, she hears his voice calling her 'Belluzza, Belluzza.' He persuades her sister Maria to invite her to a party at the villa where they are staying, and Belluzza goes there after even consulting the parish priest.
The first oil paintings
In the late 1950s, Belluzza had a romantic relationship with the painter and drawing teacher Giordano Viotto, known as Dani, who was 20 years older than her. He portrayed her in some paintings and artistic photographs. Although he sometimes let her do the underpainting, his painting had no influence on her, while during those same years, Belluzza discovered the paintings and lithographs of Giuseppe Viviani, which she liked very much. She began painting with oils on small canvases. Her first painting, made with just three colors, still surprises with its simplicity. She painted it for a competition which she later won. In the late 1960s, she began writing articles for the Pisa supplement of the newspaper La Nazione. But journalism was not her destiny. In 1969, she gave everything up to marry Roberto Vergara Caffarelli, a young Physics professor at the University of Pisa. The marriage represented a turning point because the girl decided that her work for the new family would be painting. To create each painting, she started with a drawing that she enlarged onto the canvas. It was a cheerful job, shared with her husband, who sometimes helped her with a small wooden pantograph.
In the late 1950s, Belluzza had a romantic relationship with the painter and drawing teacher Giordano Viotto, known as Dani, who was 20 years older than her. He portrayed her in some paintings and artistic photographs. Although he sometimes let her do the underpainting, his painting had no influence on her, while during those same years, Belluzza discovered the paintings and lithographs of Giuseppe Viviani, which she liked very much. She began painting with oils on small canvases. Her first painting, made with just three colors, still surprises with its simplicity. She painted it for a competition which she later won. In the late 1960s, she began writing articles for the Pisa supplement of the newspaper La Nazione. But journalism was not her destiny. In 1969, she gave everything up to marry Roberto Vergara Caffarelli, a young Physics professor at the University of Pisa. The marriage represented a turning point because the girl decided that her work for the new family would be painting. To create each painting, she started with a drawing that she enlarged onto the canvas. It was a cheerful job, shared with her husband, who sometimes helped her with a small wooden pantograph.
Her first painting, made with just three colors (1962-1965).
The years in Luzzara among the Naïfs
Until 1974, she created many paintings which she submitted to Raffaele Monti, an important art critic and professor at the University of Pisa. At first, he did not give a favorable judgment describing them as somewhat amateurish, but over time, he began to appreciate their originality. Concerned about their imperfect execution, the critic reassured her that paintings did not have to be perfect: "If only I could make them like this!" he said in the end, won over. In June 1973, Belluzza exhibited some paintings at the Sixth Exhibition at the Friars, First International Naïfs Prize, organized by Vittorio Grotti in the Convent of S. Lazzaro in Camaiore, "one of the most important and imposing exhibitions of its kind ever organized in Italy," and on that occasion, she sold the small painting Coppia al Duomo. Also in 1973, in December, she participated in the exhibition "Befana d'Oro" organized by the Apuania Gallery in Marina di Carrara, where she sold another painting. In 1974, she submitted Bambini con pattini (Children with Skates) to the National Prize of Italian Naïfs in Luzzara, Eighth Exhibition: the painting was admitted even though Cesare Zavattini, the founder of the prize, had judged it not exactly Naïf. Zavattini gave her an important recognition in a letter where he called her a "a master of his genre of painting". From 1975 to 1979, Belluzza participated almost every year in the exhibitions in Luzzara with her paintings, which were always admitted. Two of them, Campo di concentramento (Concentration Camp, 1975) and Caffè al Mare (Café by the Sea, 1979), were purchased by the Museum and are now part of the Zavattini Cultural Center. The painting exhibited in Luzzara in 1975, Bambina e donna al mare (Girl and Woman by the Sea), was bought by the photographer Gianni Berengo Gardin and is present in one of his black and white photos.
Until 1974, she created many paintings which she submitted to Raffaele Monti, an important art critic and professor at the University of Pisa. At first, he did not give a favorable judgment describing them as somewhat amateurish, but over time, he began to appreciate their originality. Concerned about their imperfect execution, the critic reassured her that paintings did not have to be perfect: "If only I could make them like this!" he said in the end, won over. In June 1973, Belluzza exhibited some paintings at the Sixth Exhibition at the Friars, First International Naïfs Prize, organized by Vittorio Grotti in the Convent of S. Lazzaro in Camaiore, "one of the most important and imposing exhibitions of its kind ever organized in Italy," and on that occasion, she sold the small painting Coppia al Duomo. Also in 1973, in December, she participated in the exhibition "Befana d'Oro" organized by the Apuania Gallery in Marina di Carrara, where she sold another painting. In 1974, she submitted Bambini con pattini (Children with Skates) to the National Prize of Italian Naïfs in Luzzara, Eighth Exhibition: the painting was admitted even though Cesare Zavattini, the founder of the prize, had judged it not exactly Naïf. Zavattini gave her an important recognition in a letter where he called her a "a master of his genre of painting". From 1975 to 1979, Belluzza participated almost every year in the exhibitions in Luzzara with her paintings, which were always admitted. Two of them, Campo di concentramento (Concentration Camp, 1975) and Caffè al Mare (Café by the Sea, 1979), were purchased by the Museum and are now part of the Zavattini Cultural Center. The painting exhibited in Luzzara in 1975, Bambina e donna al mare (Girl and Woman by the Sea), was bought by the photographer Gianni Berengo Gardin and is present in one of his black and white photos.
The photographer Gianni Berengo Gardin in his studio with the painting of Belluzza on the wall (2020).
The Fine Arts School in Brazil
From 1977 to 1979, Belluzza lived in Brazil with her husband, who was invited as a physics professor at the Universidade de São Paulo. During this time, she attended the Escola de Belas Artes at the Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado. She submitted an album of her drawings to the judgment of Pietro Maria Brandi (1900-1999), founder and curator of the MASP Museu de Arte de São Paulo, the most important art museum in Latin America. Brandi enthusiastically judged the drawings worthy of an exhibition. Despite these incentives, some health problems of the child and the lack of a suitable space prevented her from painting. She returned to Italy in 1979, resumed her normal life, and painted numerous paintings. She loves organizing fun parties, with many people filling the large rooms of the apartment at Palazzo Kinsky Dal Borgo, until a serious car accident in 1981 (her car was hit by a truck) forced her to stop all activity for many years. Only after 1993 did she resume painting in a new apartment, where, however, she could no longer use turpentine, so she switched to acrylic colors. Belluzza has an intense social life. She loves organizing fun parties, with hundreds of people. She is entertaining and gifted with exceptional conversational skills. Among her friends, the painter Pino Biggi.
From 1977 to 1979, Belluzza lived in Brazil with her husband, who was invited as a physics professor at the Universidade de São Paulo. During this time, she attended the Escola de Belas Artes at the Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado. She submitted an album of her drawings to the judgment of Pietro Maria Brandi (1900-1999), founder and curator of the MASP Museu de Arte de São Paulo, the most important art museum in Latin America. Brandi enthusiastically judged the drawings worthy of an exhibition. Despite these incentives, some health problems of the child and the lack of a suitable space prevented her from painting. She returned to Italy in 1979, resumed her normal life, and painted numerous paintings. She loves organizing fun parties, with many people filling the large rooms of the apartment at Palazzo Kinsky Dal Borgo, until a serious car accident in 1981 (her car was hit by a truck) forced her to stop all activity for many years. Only after 1993 did she resume painting in a new apartment, where, however, she could no longer use turpentine, so she switched to acrylic colors. Belluzza has an intense social life. She loves organizing fun parties, with hundreds of people. She is entertaining and gifted with exceptional conversational skills. Among her friends, the painter Pino Biggi.
The last years: the vow and the iPad
In 1996, for a family member, she decided to make a religious vow not to paint anymore and not to participate in exhibitions, definitively ending her artistic career. In her last years, Parkinson's disease struck, which combined with the serious aftermath of the car accident prevented her from going out. After a fall in February 2023, she broke her femur and has not been able to walk since then. Confined to bed, her imagination is still very lively, as is her memory and creativity. She began making highly original drawings on her iPad in her recognizable style. She left thoughts on Facebook and poems. She left this world on May 24th, 2023, nine days after celebrating her 80th birthday in her sickbed, participating via absentee ballot in the municipal elections of her beloved Pisa. Several of her paintings were sold or disappeared. Few weeks before dying, she wrote this poem:
In 1996, for a family member, she decided to make a religious vow not to paint anymore and not to participate in exhibitions, definitively ending her artistic career. In her last years, Parkinson's disease struck, which combined with the serious aftermath of the car accident prevented her from going out. After a fall in February 2023, she broke her femur and has not been able to walk since then. Confined to bed, her imagination is still very lively, as is her memory and creativity. She began making highly original drawings on her iPad in her recognizable style. She left thoughts on Facebook and poems. She left this world on May 24th, 2023, nine days after celebrating her 80th birthday in her sickbed, participating via absentee ballot in the municipal elections of her beloved Pisa. Several of her paintings were sold or disappeared. Few weeks before dying, she wrote this poem:
My name is Fiorellino, I am a subspecies of the common daisy, I grow under the chestnut trees, now my head always hangs, I am tired, I have always worked, raised many little flowers, no one looks at me anymore, they appreciate the small daisies with shiny petals full of dew, I hide disheartened ☹️ behind a cyclamen, the days pass, the meadow fills with mallow, wild strawberries, tiny spontaneous orchids, one looks at the other, the other looks at one, but no 🌺 or rose 🌹 notices Fiorellino once Queen of the Meadow, they play among themselves, sending kisses 💋 of golden dandelions, time passes, the month passes, the years pass. Fiorellino no longer lifts the beautiful now yellowed corolla, a whisper ripples through the woods, the beautiful lady of the flowers is dying, without seeing the great red Poppy again, the woods weep: we must warn the great Poppy or their blood 🩸 will stain the meadow, even poppy is far away, tired of so much fighting, but he wants wants wants to talk to Fiorellino, open the now closed petals and show his heart 💔 intertwine hands and look at the moon through the branches, and so in the morning they find them, the little heads finally united happily 😀
What will the Lord of the Field do?
