Ernesto De Fiori

Ernesto De Fiori

Italy - 1884 - 1945

Ernesto de Fiori is a Brazilian-Italian painter and sculptor. At age 19, de Fiori moved to Munich where he studied drawing with Gabriel von Hackl at the Königliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste.

In 1905, the artist moved back to his native Rome and is said to receive lessons from German painter Otto Greiner. Di Fiori lives in Paris from 1911 to 1914 where he creates his first sculptures with help from Swiss artist Hermann Haller, he also becomes a part of the intellectual and art scene in Paris.

In 1915, after being detained for spying for 14 days, he joins the German army and becomes a correspondent for an Italian newspaper. After obtaining German citizenship, he becomes a soldier.

In 1917, he abandons his post in the military and moves to Zurich. Starting in 1918 the artist is involved in a polemic in the industry regarding his concepts in defining the Dadaist movement and its role as an art concept. To de Fiori, there is no new art if it does not reference past movements – which opposed the definition of Dadaism which promotes the separation of new art from any precedents.

In 1936 the artist moves to Brazil and settles in São Paulo. He begins writing articles about the country to German and Italian publications, and later on for the Estado de S. Paulo Newspaper.

In 1938, the artist participates in an Arts integration program by the Ministry of Health and Education; he designs a series of sculptures which are later removed from the exhibit for not meeting requirements. Aside from his sculptures, di Fiori dedicated himself to painting. In his oils, many techniques are observed: quick brushes, diluted solvents, dented instruments and many more.

Di Fiori’s art has great influence in the art world in São Paulo.

Sources:
Photo: http://www.pinturabrasileira.com/artistas_bio.asp?cod=130

Artist Works

Check the selection of works of this artist