WHEN DID #INNOCENZO BECOME #DIEGO?

On this day on 10 August (1920) in Gasperina, Italy, Giuseppe Antonio Voci and Arcangela Messina Voci welcomed their second son, Antonio Innocenzo Voci  into this world… nicknamed “Toto” as a kid.  Antonio Voci never liked his middle name Innnocenzo.  It does not appear again in official documents other than the birth certificate on file in Gasperina.  He took the nickname “Diego”.

Tony Voci, nephew to Diego recalls traveling in Europe with his artist Uncle and about every hour they would stop at a café for a smoke and espresso.  To the surprise of Tony Voci, Diego was greeted as “Diego” everywhere.   “Diego” was his own celebrity.

Diego Voci and Tony Voci

The name “Diego” signed on his artwork didn’t come into play until 1966.  At encouragement of Naffouj Gallery he began signing his paintings “Diego”.  Prior to that it was some form of VOCI.  See signature section on #Wikipedia:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Diego_Voci#Gallery

The last known official document during Diego’s life was his 1976 Taunusstein Germany residence registration (see below) where “Diego” is listed as his middle name.

The December 10, 1985 Death Certificate ignores the birth middle name.

Some have wondered if Diego would have been more famous keeping the more unique name “Innocenzo” as his signature, rather than get lost in a swelling sea of Diegos, “Diego who?” .

Here’s a rewarding way to wish Antonio Diego Voci Happy Birthday.  Go to YouTube, click https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Diego+Voci and take a wonderful museum tour, a 20 year Diego retrospective covering two floors.  Or go to #Google, search “Diego  Voci” and click “Images”.

P.S. The mayor of #Gasperina, Gregorio #Gallello, just friended us on our Diego Voci Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/diego.voci Come and Join us!