Capogrossi and Totò

06.10.2026

The backstage of an exhibition involves a long phase of archival research. While preparing our upcoming show, we found an unpublished photograph of Capogrossi and Totò together, part of the precious documents in the Galleria del Naviglio archive. The two are probably on the set of Totò Diabolicus, during a break: Totò, in fact, is not wearing his full stage makeup, which also includes a fake beard. Among the film’s locations is Villa Zingone in Rome, frequented in the 1960s by artists, architects and art critics. To furnish the interiors of film productions of those years, directors often borrowed works of modern art from galleries or from the artists themselves. It is reasonable to assume that Capogrossi had come to visit Steno (a friend of his gallerist at the time) or to supervise the placement of one of his works.

The picture was taken by a set photographer (Giovanni Battista Poletto was working at the time) or by a photojournalist. These witnesses allow us to reconstruct the history of the artists we love.

©️Studio Gariboldi
©️Archivio della Galleria Del Naviglio