#RAPHAEL! 500TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Raphael, Self-portrait, between 1504 and 1506, tempera on panel, Uffizi Gallery, Florence

“The Eternal Importance of Raphael!” And DIEGO

April 6, 2020 marked the 500th death anniversary of one of art history’s greats. Does Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino sill carry relevance today?

Read here to learn more: https://www.mutualart.com/Article/The-Eternal-Importance-of-Raphael-/9E91313BC9AEC73D?source_page=Magazine

Internationally collected artist (100th Birthday) Antonio Diego Voci (VOH-chee) 1920-1985 traveled to (Raphael’s birthplace) Urbino, Italy during his career as an artist.

“As Diego’s acclaim grew, he ventured into publishing another series of prints handmade on special lithostones in [Raphael’s birthplace] Urbino, Italy in 1979, financed by Naffouj Gallery.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Diego_Voci

Helga Voci, widow to Diego Voci, shares:

In 1979 we had gone to Urbino, Italy where Diego made a series of very beautiful Lithographs. They were handmade on special litho stones. We stayed there for about 10 days and it was very hard work.

“THE REAL #ACADEMY IS THE #CAFE”-DiegoVoci™

1974 Diego 1 of 8-page Catalog (Cover)

Page 2 Content of 1974 Diego Catalog by Coop Cooprider, DiegoVoci™Historian begins with this quote by DiegoVoci™ interviewed by journalist Victoria Williams in Germany:

“A man does not find interest to be artist… it
comes automatically.

You don’t ask yourself what day you have the idea…
it grows from yourself.”

#DiegoVoci™ painting “The Red Hand“, 1974, 100 x 80 cm, oil on canvas

Victoria Williams, free-lancing at the time, wrote the following biographical sketch:

“Antonio DiegoVoci™ was born August 10, 1920, in Gasperina, a little #village in south #Italy. Typical of most parents, Guiseppe Antonio and Messina Angela encouraged their son to study for a traditional #profession. His father said,  

‘The God of Art does not give bread Diego’

…but this was not important. The compulsion for #art was too strong – the pleasure too rewarding. DIEGO was born to paint. DIEGO sold his first painting at 18. Since then art has been his profession, his life; his complete livelihood.

“I paint for pleasure… I like to work.” – Diego

At 19, DIEGO began his studies the #ACADEMY #SANMARCO in #Florence where he was tutored during a 3 year period in the #arts of #painting and #sculpture.

DIEGO began traveling the world at 25, living the life of a true #Bohemian artist, painting for his room and food. DIEGO continued #studying, #painting and #meeting with other popular artists of the #century.”  

“The real academy is the Café… where you meet so many artists.” – Diego Voci™

Victoria Williams Interview continues on Page 3

AC DV History Post #12 5/6/2010

Schlossgalerie in #Zurich, #Switzerland confirmed Antonio (#Diego) Voci’s Talents as an #Artist!

“HELGA and DIEGO” by Helga Voci

CHAPTER 4   Schloßgalerie and Switzerland

“Diego had to stay in Marrakech until August, so I decided to take a job in a travel agency in Lugano, Switzerland. This gave me the possibility to work and also to improve my Italian. I was already able to speak, but I didn’t know the grammar, so I took private lessons. Finally in August 1962 Diego joined me in Lugano.

In Switzerland it was for the first time, where Diego was seriously looking for galleries. He went to Geneva, Bern, and also to Zurich. In Zurich he found the Schloßgalerie where the owner was very interested in showing his work. So Diego decided to stay for some time in Switzerland. We rented a boathouse at the lake of Constance close to Zurich and Diego painted. The gallery owner sold quite many paintings; but unfortunately I don`t know the names of the customers and which paintings were sold.

Antonio (Diego) Voci

1963 Studio provided by Schlossgalerie, Zurich Switzerland, owner R. Buri  

At that time we never took pictures of the paintings, which is a pity. I feel very sorry, but I was young.

I had no experience and Diego did not care. If I could go back 50 years, I would do many things completely different. We stayed in Zurich until June 1963. 

During this period Diego went also several times to Aviano, Italy, the American base. He would do caricatures there. At that time a painting was sold and brought to President John F. Kennedy, who was visiting Wiesbaden. (I don`t remember what it looked like).

In Italy, we stayed for some time in Milan, Florence, and Rome. Finally we came to a small medieval town in northern Italy, called Asolo with only 1000 inhabitants. We rented an apartment in a very old house in the middle of the town with a big terrace and Diego made his first real Studio. He mostly sold in Zurich in the Schloßgalerie. But he also worked with a gallery in Milan “Globart Kunstgalerie.””

Courtesy of the Diego Voci Project. Visit www.diegovociproject.com 

Diego Voci on YouTube and Google

AC DV History #37 6/15/2010

AC P of W #207 6/9/2014