Music and Painting in the Autobiographical Prose of Eugenio Montale and Antonio Delfini (The Butterfly of Dinard, “One Story”)

Abstract

In Montale’s autobiographical book The Butterfly of Dinard, four short stories are devoted to the theme of opera singing learning. Art lives only thanks to the creators of undervalued works. Success is due only to a happy occasion that falls to the share of the few. The poet perceives the paintings of unsuccessful artists as living beings that brighten up his loneliness in the new mechanistic world. Unlucky singers, composers and artists are described with persistent empathy. Works of art serve as a link between the present and the past. The manner of A. Delfini, who created impressionistic sketches addressed primarily to the sensual perception of the reader, was understood and appreciated only post mortem. In the autobiographical story “One Story” Delfini explains the principles of his poetics to the reader, and doing it, he resorts to images of fine art. With the help of a well-known musical motif, he reveals the reason for his disappointment not only in the surrounding reality but also in himself. Thus, in the visual images of paintings and in the melodies of popular songs, he sees an opportunity to convey his personal perception of reality.

Keywords

• autobiographical prose
• Eugenio Montale
• Antonio Delfini
• the Italian literature of the 20 th century
• music in literature
• painting in literature
• the problem of memory