Courses Taught at the Institute
The Art of Buon Fresco
Drawing: The Human Figure
Beginning/ Advanced Oil Painting
Credentials
1995-2000 Degree: Master’s Degree cum laude, Academy of Fine Arts, Florence, Italy
1998 Diploma in Stone Working, Arezzo
1990-1995 Art Institute of Florence (Istituto Statale d’Arte di Firenze)
1995: Diploma in Applied Arts
1993: Diploma in Fine Arts
ARTISTIC SKILLS AND COMPETENCES
In-depth knowledge of ancient wall painting techniques and organic supports, as described in the best-known art manuscripts. Teaching since 2003 at Florence-based institutions (see Work Experience section of CV)
• Wall paintings restorer since 2000 with participation in interventions of particular historic and artistic interest (again, see Work Experience). Since 1995 independent realization of more than 100 murals in fresco and dry, commissioned by both public and private clients, for a total extension of about 2000 square meters, including: the outdoor structure of a medieval monastery, a town hall, some facades in historic centres, and numerous interiors of villas, hotels, and cafes.
• My own painting also relies on the use of mineral materials suitable for fresco technique, adopting methods and recipes both ancient and contemporary. This allows me to promote a pictorial-figurative as well as technical-material kind of art that I have displayed in many exhibitions and public events. Personal exhibitions in 2005, 2006, 2007 (a catalog of my works came out in 2008).
• Among the painting techniques I use are fresco, fresh dry, paint whitewash, encaustic, graffiti on mortar (both ancient and modern), trompe l’oeil, grotesque, ambient decorations , false walking surfaces with mortar, egg, glue, wax, wax cold, wax – resins, “tempera grassa”, oil, oleo-resins, casein, mosaic, fake marble in plaster, fake marble in soap
LATEST RESTORATIONS
2016 Director of Restoration: Palazzo del Gianbologna – Florence – Restoration of a nineteenth-century painting, and XVI sec. (Borgo Pinti, Santa Croce Florence)
2015 Director of Restoration: Palazzo Guadagni – Florence – Restoration of a nineteenth-century painting at Biblioteca Thovar, the ground floor of Palazzo Guadagni. (Piazza Santo Spirito, Florence)(Soprintendenza per i beni culturali di Firenze)
2015 Instructor:Ex Scuderie- Istituto Statale d’Arte di Firenze – Florence – Restoration of an early eighteenth-century ceiling. (Soprintendenza per i beni culturali di Firenze)
2014 Director of Restoration:Palazzo Guadagni – Florence – Restoration of a nineteenth-century painting, two rooms on the first floor. (Piazza Santo Spirito, Florence)(Soprintendenza per i beni culturali di Firenze)
2013 Director of Restoration: Palazzo Giugni – Florence – Restoration of a mural dating from the first half of the sixteenth century on the second floor. (Soprintendenza per i beni culturali di Firenze)
SELECTED WORKS OF ART
• Marzo 2013 Decorations of the rooms on the first floor of the Renaissance Palazzo Giugni. Firenze
• November 2012 Decorations of the rooms on the third floor of the Renaissance Palazzo Giugni. Firenze
• April 2009 Decoration of the ceiling on the third floor of the Renaissance Palazzo Giugni. Firenze
• December 2008 Decoration of the Hall ceiling in a Grand Hotel Miravalle- San Miniato Pisa
• July 2007 creation of large fresco in a village on Lake Como, Italy • July 2007: creation of two works with the “Buon fresco” technique in Taceno, near Lake Como, Italy
• February 2007: creation of a fresco in the Florence Art Academy with my students
• February 2006, Cow Parade, Italy. Decoration of one 51 Italian cows displayed in the piazzas of Italy. Sold at auction to benefit the Meyer Hospital in Florence
LATEST EXHIBITIONS
• 2006 Exhibition of three works Galleria d’Arte, “Atelier d’Arte” di Franceschi Eliana, Lucca
• 2007 Personal Exhibition – Portraits, San Miniato (Pisa) • 2007 Personal Exhibition – Portraits, Villa Zappala, Turin “ Introduction of Vittorio Sgarbi
• 2008 Personal Exhibition “Speziali” Castello di Lari PISA (Author Catalogue)
LATEST AWARDS AND HONORS
• Luglio 2009 Selection and Prize-giving by “Muri d’Autore” and Comune di Valloria – Imperia for a painting door in the city
• October 2008 Recognition from the committee created by Vittorio Sgarbi. Prize-giving by “Muri d’Autore” and Comune di Gavazzana – Alessandria Mantova, for a mural painting in the city
• September 2008 Prize-giving of the contest “GUIDIZZOLO IN ARTE” organized by the Associazione Franco Bombana for a mural painting.
Teaching Philosophy
I strongly believe in the importance of passing on artistic traditions. The artists of the past also studied for twenty years in the master’s workshop, before becoming masters themselves. Having been a student, I understand the importance of engaging my students in exciting ways. What I like to do in my classes is explain theory and allow the students absorb these lessons when performed in practice. How was a Roman painting made compared to a Greek or Oriental one? How did they paint on walls in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance or the Baroque period? How is a famous painting like the Venere by Botticelli or the Monnalisa by Leonardo made? All this information has been handed down to us thanks to the meticulous work of historians and artist-writers, and now, thanks to the technology of restoration, we are able to evaluate the results and appreciate them even more. The art world is beautiful and fascinating, and, like everything else, in order to achieve significant results, it requires commitment and dedication. I wish to teach my students this lesson.