The exhibition organised by Fondazione Credito Valtellinese under the sponsorship of Sondrio local government is presented in an illustrated catalogue edited by art critic and best selling writer on watercolour techniques Antonino Da Bono, editor-in-chief of Italian magazine 'Arte pił Arte'. The exhibition catalogue also includes a few essays and a bibliography by Leo Schena.
Aldo Raimondi portrayed legendary figures in Italy's history: Kings and Emperors as well as farmers and workers from the lower classes, soldiers and officers (he contributed illustrations for the covers of famous newspapers such as the 'Domenica del Corriere' and 'Illustrazione del Popolo'), diplomats and Fascist party officials, Italian men of science and singers (e.g. Guglielmo Marconi, Beniamino Gigli).

He was appointed Italy's official painter at the congress of Stresa in 1935, which laid the foundations for the agreement known as 'Patto a Quattro', signed by British and French Prime ministers and Foreign Ministers. Since that date, watercolour has assumed a crucial role in the 20th century art. Shortly after, in fact, King Vittorio Emanuele III wanted Raimondi to teach watercolour techniques at the Brera Academy of Arts, in Milan.

Raimondi developed a new style of painting known as 'Lyric Realism', according to art critic Antonino Da Bono. The Lyric Realism is a perfect combination of Impressionism and Naturalism. Painters who associated themselves with the new artistic movement adopted the mode of painting often referred to as 'en plein-air', using a rapid brush-stroke, handling colours well, sometimes even absorbing the atmosphere around to create a sort of phenomenal reality. Beautiful paintings by Aldo Raimondi depict horses, the Swiss Guards in San Pietro in gaudy uniforms and morions and the three Popes in their stately attitude.

The exhibition that is being jointly hosted at the venues inside Palazzo Sertoli and Palazzo Sassi de' Lavizzari, in Sondrio, has been mounted to satisfy the high expectations of art collectors and to delight and entertain everyone with a rich overview of the works by great watercolorist Aldo Raimondi, who is also known as 'Re dell'Acquerello' (a master watercolorist).