La costellazione del cane

La costellazione del cane

In the seventeenth century, a terrible epidemic hit Bologna, taking away almost half of its population: the plague. Such dramatic events have often generated social crises in which superstition has taken the place of reason, giving way to a reckless hunt for the infectors. In this volume the disease takes on a face, becomes a character, and condemns anyone who meets on their way "regardless of rich or poor". A faithful historical reconstruction of the period, starting from the costumes and settings masterfully reproduced by the watercolors of Sergio Tisselli, which is combined with the fantastic element.

It is precisely with La constellazione del cane that Sergio Tisselli's artistic career kicked off and it is thanks to this publication that he came into contact with Magnus, with whom he would later embark on a fruitful collaborative relationship. The plague that struck the capital of Emilia-Romagna in the 17th century was a topic very dear to Tisselli, so much so that he even chose to dedicate his degree thesis in Modern History to it. Starting from the latter for the drafting of the screenplay, after having documented himself at length on historical data, he translated into images that sad chapter of Bologna - his hometown - together with the world of superstitions that had created around him. Combining the real with the fantastic, he personified the disease: a sinister and mysterious man who roamed the streets sowing pain and death, without making concessions to anyone or making distinctions between social classes. The result is both a wonderful window into the past and a fascinating original story with dark hues.

«I was struck by Tisselli's interest in history on the one hand and, compatibly with his pictorial vocation, the inclination to create historical visualizations that are as punctual and convincing as possible; on the other, the modesty that prompted him to refine his style and historical skills, convinced that "translating" history into images required a deep and broad knowledge of the period and the events displayed. »

Giulio C. Cuccolini