Danilo Di Prete

Danilo di Prete (Pisa, Italy, June 17, 1911 - São Paulo, SP, March 8, 1985) was a self-taught painter, visual artist, illustrator, and poster artist who began his career at the age of 20 in Italy. During World War II (1939-1945), he was part of the Group of Italian Artists in Arms, illustrating episodes of the war in Albania, Greece, and Yugoslavia. His work from this period is characterized by a figurative style with themes including seascapes, still lifes, and portraits. In 1946, Di Prete emigrated to Brazil, settling in São Paulo, where he initially worked in advertising for four years. In 1951, he participated in the 1st São Paulo International Biennial, where he won the national painting prize with the work "Lemons." He is credited with suggesting to Ciccillo Matarazzo the idea of a biennial modeled after the one in Venice, which would culminate in the São Paulo Biennial, although this contribution is not officially recognized in the memoirs of Yolanda Penteado or by his biographer Antonio Bivar. Di Prete participated in twelve more biennials and in 1965 once again received the national painting prize at the 8th São Paulo International Biennial.

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Photo: https://www.guiadasartes.com.br/danilo-di-prete/obras-e-biografia