Ciao a tutti
Pietro Annogoni was born in Milano, 1910. At 15 he moved to Firenze, Toscana, and at 17 began to study at the Academia belli'arti, among other institutes. Annigoni's instructor Felice Carena was the daughter of one of Gerome's pupils. As a student Annigoni continuously studies under various teachers. He was a master of watercolor, etching, drafting, and painting of course.
Annigoni found oil a problematic medium and invented his own, tempra grasso, a mixture of tempera and oil, which was used in many of his work. He was also a great fresco painter as can be seen throughout Firenze and in small towns dotting northern Italy.
The career started slowly and at first, though it was a constant problem, he received poor reviews from art critics, who were tired of the classical movement. It would seem that their strong reactions against Annigoni's woprk would only prove how masterful it was. Famous Bernard Berenson said that Annigni was the best artist of the 20th century (please don't quote this word for word).
He was not fond of the Fascist's that wrecked his beloved Florence (as can be seen in his etchings from this period) or much of the aristocracy. He was a patron to the wretched and homeless, and it said that from the start of his career he would throw lire out his window to the penniless below.
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