#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.

#MILLET #VANGOGH #DIEGO #HARVEST

Words from Canadian Collector James Thomson who shares his interpretation of internationally collected artist Antonio Diego Voci (1920-1985 VOH- chee) painting titled “Women Working in the Field”

“This painting was done in very Earthy Brown values of Colour. Three Women gleaning the Harvest. Vincent Van Gogh was captivated by the artistic work of Jean-Francois Millet. I believe that Diego was also attracted by Millet’s paintings of the hard working poor. Diego, I believe captured the essence of these gleaners’ painted as though they are covered by the soil that they must through to salvage wheat or other produce after a Harvest. Van Gogh’s masterpiece of “The Potato Eaters” and other harvesting paintings he did were I’m sure inspired by Millet’s body of works. So I’m very happy to have this somewhat different Oil of Women with Bowed Backs, dirty gowns and aprons foraging to collect food for their families.”

Note: this painting is the only known painting with a wax stamp. The wax stamp says “Naffouj Gallery”, who represented Antonio Diego Voci from 1966-1970

To view more of what Diego captured in every day life here: https://www.pinterest.com/diegovoci/every-day-any-dayby-diegovocitm/

“OLD MAN PORTRAIT” 4SALE ON ETSY

Diego Voci; “Old Man Portrait” Acrylic on Canvas, late 1960’s 

Antonio Diego Voci(1920-1985) Painting Listed Italian Artist “Old Man” portrait 26″ x 30″ framed 20″ x 24″ canvas

Coop Cooprider, Diego Voci Historian, notes that this is the original frame from  Naffouj Gallery.  Naffouj Gallery represented Diego Voci, click to learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Diego_Voci#Germany_-_Naffouj_and_Dahms_galleries

KEEP AN EYE OUT! A HIDDEN GEM AWAITS YOU

Diego Voci; The Trial 38″x30″ Framed, oil painting Private Collection

 

We (The Diego Voci Project Team) just learned that James Thomson, Diego Voci Collector, acquired “The Trial” by internationally collected artist, Antonio Diego Voci (1920-1985) from an online Goodwill auction.

James shares;

“I purchased another oil painting by Diego. The canvas measures (31 X 23 inches), framed (38 X 30 inches). On the back is Diego printed and below that in English, the title ” The Trial ” which I assume is the trial of the Apostle’s Peter and John with them in the painting stands the cripple that they cured who stood up with Peter and John to defend the Apostles before the threatening Jewish Council. The Council asked them “By what power or in whose name did you do this?””

 This painting title “The Trial” was during the time the DIEGO signature began on his works (ca. 1966).  Diego began an exclusive contract to NAFFOUJ Gallery. The frame is the style commonly used by Naffouj for DIEGO as well as other artists. The biography on the back was written by Joy Gibson before she married Jawdat Naffouj. Joy now resides in Canada. Our estimation is the work is around 1966. The historical interpretation certainly to fits what James Thomson wrote.

Visit: The Diego Voci Project website!

 

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!

 

 

FRED CURLEY KNEW #ARTIST #DIEGOVOCI™

A #DiegoVoci™ #Collector, Fred Curley, once worked for Jawdat Naffouj at the Naffouj Gallery in #Landstuhl, #Germany from 1969-71.

The Naffouj Gallery once upon a time was the revolving door for DiegoVoci™ paintings. As Diego shipped them to Naffouj Gallery from one country to the next capturing human emotions on canvas along the way, those paintings were quickly acquired by collectors of all kinds. 

Fred Curley, orchestrated exhibitions for Naffouj Gallery at most all of the #Military Officer’s clubs and Embassy’s in #Belgium.

Fred Curley was the source behind the success of sold DiegoVoci™ works that are still in the hands of the original collectors.  In Fred’s words:

“DiegoVoci™ had quite a following and everyone looked forward to my next show to see his new work. I had the fortune of personally getting to know DiegoVoci™ from working at the Gallery. I remember watching Diego paint and everyone sitting around joking drinking good wine and eating cheese.”

“I have always dreamed of opening my own Gallery when I retire and have the opportunity to offer some great works of art that I had a chance to see and enjoy as a young man. I still travel to Germany and stop in to see Jawdat Naffouj when I am there. The Naffouj Gallery is still there and Jawdat looks good and still has many DiegoVoci (graphics), Diedter Grants and also Pallucci’s in his Gallery. I, myself, own a Diego of a Madonna and Child that I personally watched him paint.”

 

Here is an image (above) of Jawdat Naffouj in 2012 at Naffouj Gallery.

The DiegoVoci™ Project thanks Fred Curley for sharing his own personal experience with DiegoVoci™.

How fortunate for Fred Curley to share so much time with Diego, the man.  Also to personally possess a canvas Fred watched him create, one of Diego’s estimated 4,000 oil paintings.  Are there any photos?  Please contact us at the DiegoVoci™ Project website.  We hope to receive images of your Diego works of art.

AC P of W #293 2/10/16

DIEGO VOCI LANDSCAPE SOLD ON EBAY AT BARGAIN PRICE OF $599.00

Someone got a good deal! Listed as: Antonio DIEGO Voci Oil Painting German Countryside Signed Italian Listed Artist:    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antonio-DIEGO-Voci-Oil-Painting-German-Countryside-Signed-Italian-Listed-Artist-/191516391264

Up for auction was this charming oil painting signed DIEGO described as a countryside landscape scene in Germany.

The painting measures 23 1/2″ x 31 1/2″ and the frame measures 30″ x 38″. The frame indicates the original purchase was from Naffouj Gallery in Landstuhl, Germany.

This is the time to buy.  These bargains continue to be available.  Act quickly! visit  www.diegovociproject.com