Giorgina Venosta – Portraits: Giorgina and Aldo Bassetti

During her marriage to Bernardo Caprotti, Giorgina was unhappy, feeling stifled by her husband’s constant and excessive control over every aspect of her life and the upbringing of their two children, Giuseppe and Violetta. At a certain point, she fell in love with another man, Aldo Bassetti — a scion of one of Lombardy’s leading textile dynasties, yet a devout democrat whose convictions set him at odds with his family. This relationship irreparably fractured Giorgina’s marriage to Bernardo, leading her to leave the marital home and formally separate.

Although Giorgina and Aldo would part ways thereafter, she entered into other significant relationships — most notably a long, meaningful partnership with artist Guido Somarè. In 1983, however, she reunited with Bassetti, this time permanently: first as companions, then as spouses. Their lives became deeply intertwined, moving in parallel as if on perfectly aligned tracks. Aldo emerged as a multifaceted, visionary entrepreneur — a founding member of the daily newspaper La Repubblica, an investor in brewing and venture capital, among countless other ventures — while Giorgina established herself as a respected art expert, sharing Aldo’s passion (he served for many years as President of the Friends of Brera, a role he cherished) and running her own consulting firm.

They moved in the same circles, shared the same friendships, and found serenity in their lovingly restored and furnished retreat in Monate, surrounded by dogs and tranquility — a union truly made in heaven. When Giorgina passed away in 2021, Aldo followed her just a year later.

Bibliography:
G. CAPROTTI, Le ossa dei Caprotti. Una storia italiana, Milano, 2024/3.