Vincent City/Eremo di Vincent [Vincent’s Hermitage]Vincent Maria Brunetti (b. 1950)

About the Artist/Site

Born Vincenzo Brunetti, the artist carried on an artistic career in Milan for some twenty years before returning to his native home in Guagnano. Vincent City started first as a votive church, but by the mid-1990s he had transformed it into an idiosyncratic – and egocentric – house museum.

The most arresting component as one first views the house is the high front gable, filled with statues of all kinds (including Madonnas, cherubs, snails, elephants, donkeys, and a reproduction of Michelangelo’s David), as well as multicolored tiles and writings in biblical style. Inside and outside alike, Brunetti has combined everything together – his own works along with those of coworkers, copies of well-known artworks, ready-mades of recovered and decontextualized items, large and small staircases, low and high ceilings, and small doors opening into the most unlikely rooms.

A separate house hosts a selection of his paintings that are available for purchase; here, on Sundays, the “Master” performs music for visitors.

Brunetti continues to work on expanding the house-museum, although it has been threatened for removal for unpermitted construction, and in the past it was temporarily closed. It is well-known in the area as a local attraction.

~Lina Pispico

www.costruttoridibabele.net

 

Map & Site Information

Via Case Sparse
Guagnano, Puglia, 73010 it
Latitude/Longitude: 40.3953959 / 17.944238

Status

Threatened

Address

Via Case Sparse, Guagnano, Puglia, 73010, Italy

Built

begun 1990s

Visiting Information

Brunetti continues to work on expanding the house-museum, although it has been threatened for removal for unpermitted construction, and in the past it was temporarily closed. It is well-known in the area as a local attraction.

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