The origins of this family from Arpino are very ancient, the Mastro-Jannis are already present, in fact, in the only manuscript cadastres of the town which are still intact and date back to 1400. The family represents an extraordinary episode in the long list of famous characters born in Arpino, or which however have their origins here, for the high number of its members which, in the visual arts, have reached extraordinary levels of ability, gaining great success. First among all the architect Germano (born in Arpino), scholar of the famous Vanvitelli, that mainly worked in Naples around the end of the 18th century. More than once, while talking to Umberto Mastroianni (born in Fontana Liri), in his studio-house of Marino, we agreed that it was necessary not only to underline this “genetic particularity”, but it would have been a good idea to start off a series of researches and studies for an exact reconstruction of the lives and works of very interesting artistic characters, such as uncle Domenico (born in Arpino) or cousin Alberto (born in Montrouge, Paris).
For the more famous nephews: Marcello (born in Fontana Liri), Ruggero (born in Turin), and their daughters Barbara, Chiara and Federica, in fact, things would have been easier because of their notoriety and recentness. The Mastroianni ceramists: Felice, Marco, Vincenzo and Emilio (all born in Arpino), represent another branch of this family (the links with the other Mastroianni family are not known), but surely constitute an important piece of the history of the city, being artisans of great talent capable of creating pieces of rare beauty amongst which, first are the figures of the “Ciociaro crib”. We have, therefore, started a reconstruction which should bring to the realization of the Mastroianni Museum, as soon as the prestigious seat of the Ladislaus Castle in Arpino shall be available and the historical researches on all the members of the family shall be definitely finished. These studies that are not always simple, in particular for what concerns the activities of Germano and the decade Domenico stayed in Paris.
On this project we received the approbation and the adhesion of Marcello Mastroianni when, shooting the film Splendor in Arpino, with Massimo Troisi and directed by Ettore Scola, we visited many small towns of Ciociaria.
It is a great occasion not only for our city but for the whole province, to give life to an international multi-medial structure through which it will be possible to organize cultural activities of high quality and prestige in the ambit of all the visual arts. A structure which will have the means and resources capable of touching even the social and economical reality of our territory. A long and not easy task which we continue to pursue obstinately, supported by the great encouragement which one of the greatest Italian artists of the XX century gave us, and by the help of the relatives and friends of the Mastroiannis, which allow us to recover and catalogue significant works and stories for the reconstruction of many lives.
A reconstruction that is not without surprises from the start, because to discover the works of Domenico and the fantastic drawings of Alberto wasn’t less thrilling than catching a glimpse of the Parisian Chiara’s eyes in a film, than admiring Barbara’s woods and Federica’s architecture, (Barbara and Federica were both born in Rome). They represent the today…and the tomorrow of the Mastroianni family.
They are the worthy heiresses of an adventure which we truly wish shall never end.

Massimo Struffi.