Francesco Guarino's production maintains Albisola's traditional decorative with a naturalistic kind of pottery including still life, landscapes, sculptures etc...and, made to order, also portraits in oils. His production is exclusively realized in majolica and his work consists of unique pieces entirely handmade, guaranteed by Francesco's experience: He has been working with ceramics masters since 1990, opening afterwards a workshop on his own and preferring to specialize in monotype production rather than mass-production. Francesco Guarino has attended several art-exhibitions at national and international level.

Albisola:

Albisola is a little town in the province of Savona, which together with its position as an appreciated holiday resort, can also claim a national importance in the field of ceramics and majolica. The Albisola ceramic is famous, above all, for its characteristic colour white and blue, known as "Antico Savona". Francesco's production moves in this artistic framework having assimilated the decorative technique typical of Albisola, added to an inborn talent. Probably a heritage of sicily where he originates from, a region traditionally rich in artists dedicated to the creation of ceramics. Francesco is very versatile. His work is varied, without exaggeration and byzantinisms and always with an eye to tradition. His works include: vases, sculptures, paintings, decorated plates, lamps, portraits, various objects for indoor decoration, landscapes, gift articles can be ordered. Another aspect of the variegates artistic personality of Francesco Guarino is the artist's interest in Holy art. He has produced numerous works inspired by this antique tradition. Online there is a section very rich, dedicated to Holy art. Portraits of Saints, Nativity and Passion of Christ, sculptures representing the figures of the Holy Crib, plates with biblical scenes, these one only some of the works present in the link of Holy art. Sea, mountains, sun, art one only some of the prerogatives of this small but important centre in the province of Savona. Even if you are interested only in certain aspects characteristic of Albisola, don't hesitate to treat yourself to a holiday in this part of Liguria, it's worth it. If you do, you must visit Francesco's studio, to admire his work on the spot. It is situated in front of the railway station and near the motorway, exit for Albisola Superiore.

The history:

The processing of the clay in Albisola is thousands of years old. One can say that the manufacture of the clay has followed step by step the civilization moving down the evolution. A good quality of ceramic for various uses, was produced in Albisola during the Roman Age. The decline of the ceramic tradition in Albisola coincided with the decline of the Roman civilization,only to revive slowly in the middle ages. There was 'till '500 a revival of the Albisola's production. In '600 Albisola could boast of one of the best production of majolica in Europe. The most famous decorative art diffused at that time and still produced were the Calligraphic-Naturalistic Antico Savona or "blue and white". The 18th century witnessed the development of Levantino and Valente style, also during the 18th and 19th centuries there was the Boselli and many othre decorative styles leading of the Decò and Futurismo. The history of the ceramics of Albisola, therefore protrae from centuries, on as it has been developed until becoming in some moments of the history of the Italian majolica most famous; it is source of disacordi between the ceramologhi students. According to some like the student Antonio Aragon, beginning from XI the century leaving from the Sicily is diffused in the turn of little centuries in all Italy and therefore towards XII the century it lands also in Albisola, second archeolo the English David Whitehouse, the sicilian or southern proto-majolica and of various origins regarding the archaic majolica of the North, of origin from 1100 in then from the Africa north and therefore in Albisola and Savona. Perhaps in the Middle Ages the testimony of this production also of Albisola is testified from the “incastonati River basins” on the bell towers and the facades of the churches of the Liguria, and also it inventories in lists to you of the vasellame of the noble ones of the Liguria. According to some documents of VIII the century of i monaci Benedictines they would have carried others second brought back the ceramics, in Albisola usually it was be a matter of invetriate lands or ingobbi. In the four hundred a rebirth of the production in Albisola of the archaic majolica is documented, of the ingobbi, the average maioliche, the display windows, of the lustri, but and In the five hundred that prepare the true closing of the majolica of Albisola, than in successive the six hundred, it will carry Albisola to being known in all Europe. The documents beyond that the manufatti ones are many also that they testify in the five hundred this decided closing of the ceramics of Albisola. These ceramics of Albisola not only come demanded from the noble ones of Genoa or the Liguria. E' in this period that is born some of the families of ceamisti of Savona and Albisola become famous and flourishing also in the XVI and XVII century. Other ceramisti that have operated to Albisola “scavalcando” the centuries are the Bianchino, the Ghirardi. And in the five hundred that is born the first statutos actions to prescribed the profession. The ceramisti of Albisola are many and enrolled Savona then to these corporations or statutos, is begun to feel names then becomes to you famous in the history of the ceramics of Albisola and Savona like: the Conrado, Piccone, exactly Salomone and Ghirardi, Large, Peluffo, Sciaccarama, Seirullo, Saettone or Seitone and others all ceramisti masters of Savona and Albisola that made year the history of the ceramics of Albisola and Savona. Perhaps we arrive therefore to the six hundred the century of greater fulgore of the production of Majolica di Albisola and Savona. In this period that takes foot and is diffused, appreciated for its sobrietà, elegance and freschezza of execution the famous honor “Ancient Savona” at the hands of the painter Giovanni Antonio Guidobono. This honor places Albisola and Savona to the apex of the productions of maioliche in the peninsula with demands for its famous Turchino color from all Italy and Europe. Beyond that for the honor Albisola and Savona they assume notoriety and reputation also for the fineness of its enamels white men. Perhaps and just in this period that for rivalry or pride of bottega that to Albisola and Savona they diffuse themselves marks of “Family” you mail under goes itself and that today the ceramologhi help to identify the Majolica di Albisola and Savona. Also in this period however he assists himself to ups and downs of the production of Albisola and Savona due, also wings several wars and pestilenze that to the flaggellavano age Europe. They are active in this century to Albisola and Savona also the families of the Folco, Bianchino Nail and many others not less famous. In the seven hundred he begins to diffuse after the 1720 china and therefore the honor to third fire in 1748, and the earthenware invetriata in the 1752 coming from from England and then from all Europe that together to the china fastly to the maioliche of Albisola and Italians supplant in particular, provoking to serious crises and forfeiture in the field. In the seven hundred to albisola and Savona famous ceramisti are active as the Folco, Levantino, Giacomo Boselli, Rapes etc. In the ight hundred in Europe handicraft laboratories by now they have for a long time been supplants from the European factories, manufacturers of chinas and earthenwares to you decorated with decalcomanias. Therefore second many historians of the ceramics of Albisola and Savona this century and to dominated from a fort common decline however great part of the Italian ceramisti. In this century the production of the maiolica nearly is completely abandoned in favour of the production of pottery mattoni and this because the ceramista of Albisola is not able or does not succeed because of the competition of the factory products together in cultural and economic reasons to face the foreign competition. not ostante this does not lack famous artists like the Tambuscio or the Tipsy one. Towards the end of the ight hundred it is Nicolò Hills to Savona before and Albisola then to contribute to the rebirth of the maioliche of Albisola In the nine hundred the Hill work consolidated conditions the return to the ancient one of other ceramisti of Albisola, the honor more in voga has been between ight hundred end and beginning nine hundred the “liberty” and in 1920 the Futurismo that has rendered celebre Albisola. The styles more famous than Albisola and Savona are in the XVII Calligraphic the Naturalistic one, produced on imitation of the Turkish honor of Iznik or the Chinese chinas. It can be decorated “to quarters” “to rabesche” “to leaves” “to countries”. The ceramisti of Albisola painted you reasons orient them like lepri fawns, birds leaves, overlapped to western reasons like churches, castles, houses. It could be in policromia or Turchino. An other honor of the most famous Albisola is “the Ancient Savona” always introduced in XVII the century from the painter Giovanni Antonio Guidobono, the honor and turchino on deep white man usually they reproduced sacred, mitologiche figures or landscapes. It was decorated also but less it was diffused in policromia. In XVIII the century to Albisola it was much diffused the ““Being worth” Levantino ““Uccelli and Prezzemolo ““Boselli” In XX the century to Albisola they diffuse “the Art Dèco then “and the “Futurismo” To Albisola beyond to the ceramics you can find one beautiful beach, many restaurants, To Albisola there are also many beautiful churches to Advanced Albisola finds that one dedicada to Saint Nicolò, to Albisola Saint Head Peter and Stella Maris, to Albissola Marina that one dedicated to “Ours Mrs. of the Concord” To the locality Peace in common of Advanced Albisola the Madonna of the Peace.