20 Facts About Pietro Annigoni

Pietro Annigoni, OMRI was an Italian artist, portrait painter, fresco painter and medallist, best known for his painted portraits of Queen Elizabeth II.

Pietro Annigoni's work was in the Renaissance tradition, contrasting with the modernist style that prevailed in his time.

Pietro Annigoni enrolled in the nude class run by the Florentine Circolo degli Artisti, while attending the open class in the same subject at the Academy.

Pietro Annigoni exhibited his work for the first time in Florence in 1930 with a group of painters.

Pietro Annigoni had his first individual exhibition two years later, in 1932 at the Bellini Gallery in the Palazzo Ferroni.

Pietro Annigoni was married to Anna Giuseppa Maggini in 1937 until her death of illness in July 1969.

In May 1988, Pietro Annigoni had emergency surgery due to a perforated ulcer, and he did not recover fully from the ailment.

Pietro Annigoni was rushed to the hospital in Florence on 27 October 1988 and died of kidney failure on 28 October 1988.

Pietro Annigoni is buried in the Porte Sante cemetery at the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, overlooking his beloved Florence.

Between 1945 and 1950, Pietro Annigoni produced a succession of important and very successful works.

In March 1949, the Committee of the Royal Academy in England accepted the works Pietro Annigoni offered for its annual exhibition.

Pietro Annigoni's work bore the influence of Italian Renaissance portraiture, and was in contrast to the modernist and post-modernist artistic styles that dominated the middle- and late-twentieth century.

Pietro Annigoni painted two portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1955 and 1969.

The result was perhaps his least-liked portrait as Pietro Annigoni had no time or inclination to satisfy the magazine.

An outspoken artist, Pietro Annigoni wrote essays challenging modern art that disregarded the basic ability to draw.

Pietro Annigoni alienated critics, who claimed his art was too representational, discounting the unique dramatic signature the artist brought to Renaissance tradition.

Pietro Annigoni was active painting church frescoes in and around Florence.

In 1970 Pietro Annigoni painted "San Giuseppe" an affresco in the Church of Saint Joseph in Galluzzo.

In 1959, Pietro Annigoni was elected to the National Academy of Design as an Honorary Corresponding member.

On 14 November 1975 Pietro Annigoni was conferred the Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.