"Do not be deceived by its stentorian voice, by its cries, by its screams, or even by its offensive provocations, by its villainy. Be careful, Livorno is something else. Try to reach its soul [...]". (Santini, 1986). 

The decision to exhibit two artists from Livorno, Dario Ballantini and Stefano Pilato, and the three protagonists of the Modigliani's prank, Pier Francesco Ferrucci, Michele Ghelarducci and Pietro Luridiana, stems from the desire to shed light upon the contemporary artistic reality of Livorno outside the city borders. 

Livorno has always welcomed generations of painters who have not followed a distinct pictorial path but who have created a "cacciucco" (a famous complex Livornese soup) of different experiences. In Livorno there were no academies and those who wanted to learn the trade went along the seafront, in the pine grove at Ardenza and in Piazza Cavour and began to draw and then paint. 
 

Let the works on display, therefore, lead you to the true soul of Livorno.