Biography & Fine Art Works

Franco Bertagnin portrayed at the age of 8 in his native Calalzo di Cadore

The artistic talent of the Venetian painter is revealed very early. In fact, since the early years of elementary school, he is noted for his innate ability for drawing and for the careful and characteristic use of colour.

It is at the age of seven that a work by the very young artist is selected and exhibited at the Geneva International Drawing Exhibition, thanks to the interest of the elementary teacher Elna Fiori who, sure of the talent of her little pupil, sends the drawing to the organizers of the Exhibition.

This is the first of the long series of national and international successes that have marked – and still distinguish – the artistic life of Franco Bertagnin.

The Bear

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Casa Tiziano

Il bronzino e mele

Piazza di CalalZo di Cadore

Paesaggio invernale a Calalzo di Cadore

Il Montanel

Misurino e limoni

Vasi e mele

Gita al Rifugio Antelao

Bottiglie di vino e misurino

Oil on panel Sandro Maldini collection – London.

This painting from the early 1950s is representative of the artist’s first production characterized by a strong realistic structure that already allows us to glimpse his mastery in the use of color and his ability to make vibrant – even in compositional simplicity – every portrait subject.

Comunione

Allegoria

Oil on panel from 1956 collection Carlo Alberto Vignola – Monstebulluna.

On this occasion Bertagnin abandons the realistic style of his previous production to create the aforementioned Allegory on the struggle between good and evil.

Also in this work, he uses the characteristic of color to give the very personal imprint of the young painter. The panel was exhibited at length in the rectory of the church of Calalzo di Cadore and later purchased by the collector Carlo Alberto Vignola of Montebelluna.

Casa

This photo was taken in the Beragnin Calalzina house around the early 1950s. The overflow of works, piled up almost everywhere, is indicative despite the young age of the prolific extraordinary artisa, which in these years begins to receive the first important awards nationwide. In fact, in 1953 his participation in the National Art Exhibition in Rome. Most of the quandri portrayed in this photo, and those that follow, are now scattered around the world in public and private collections.

Brocca e colo

Oil on panel Angelo Bertagnin collection – Calalzo.

Another example of the artist’s formative period. In this work Bertagnin paints the jug and the colo that his mother used to measure the milk for the destruction of the various calalzine families. This painting was exhibited in a solo exhibition by the artist in his hometown in June 1973. The exhibition was so successful that not a single painting remained unsold.

Allegria invernale

The image is from the early 50s and tells a typical moment of joy and aggregation of that time, a cross-country race that brought together the whole town around the track. The photographed competitor and the young Bertagnin, who has always been passionate about this sport.

“I wanted to include this photo in the catalog because I like the idea that today someone can find among these faces that of their grandfather or father or another family member”.

Prima Neve

Oil on canvas private collection – Calalzo

“Prima neve” is part of Bertagnin’s works of the Impressionist period. The winter landscape portrays the panoramic road of Calalzo. The strength of color, a characteristic element of all the pictorial work of the Venetian artist and the careful and calibrated use of light, produce a landscape with almost enchanted features but, at the same time, extremely vivid and real.

Mele e Vaso

Oil on canvas collection of MArio Prandi – Venice

At the age of 20, Bertagnin was asked to set up his first personal show at the Tarantola Gallery in Belluno. MArio Prandi, a well-known art dealer who has always been attentive to the potential of new emerging artists, was so impressed that he proposed the purchase of all his works to a young painter.

Candeliere e Patate

Oil on canvas collection of Mario Prandi – Venice

“Candlestick with potatoes” is one of the works that made up the artist’s first solo exhibition, also later purchased by Prandi.

Contratto

In 1959 the art dealer Mario Prandi, discovering the talent of the painter. Franco Bertagnin made the contracted over-product with the young master, grabbing all the best artistic production of him.

Ninfa Pensierosa

The Giorgione of the twentieth century

Continuous experimentation is the basis of all of Franco Bertagnin’s work, who does not fail to use different techniques and styles to make them his own, filtering and processing them through his own personality. In this early work, entitled “Nymph Pensierosa” painted in 1955 and now belonging to a private Venetian collection, the artist abandons the everyday objects that characterized the previous production to let himself be guided by the influence of the great masters of the past. The English critic Jack Hilliar was so impressed by Bertagnin’s works that he called him the “Girogione of the twentieth century”.

Brocca con vaso e bottiglia

Magnificent Cadore Community

In 1957 Franco Bertagnin was awarded in the exhibition of Cadore artists held in the building of the Magnifica Comunita Cadorina. Bertagnin is the most artist present at the event.

Il Boscaiolo

“Il Boscaiolo”, oil on panel painted in 1956 and now belonging to the Concolato di Castelfranco collection.

Once again Bertagnin confirms his talent and propensity for a characteristic and vigorous use of color, accorded to a wise compositional simplicity. The portrayed subject thus becomes living matter, expression of a suffering and lyrical humanity at the same time.

Giovanni Peruz

This portrait of Bertagnin is the work of Giovanni Peruz, the photographer from Calalzo di Cadore who had a laboratory with an entire professional process of photography printed and colored it (before the introduction of automated and color printing).

A job that he did totally by hand and with passion. Nani Peruz himself, and to his deep passiones for photography and art, we owe the cataloging and archiving of most of Franco Bertagnin’s first production, which otherwise would have simply disappeared around the world.

I tre Vecchi

“The Three Old Men” is another perfectly successful example of the first period of the Venetian artist. The rarefied atmosphere and the purity of the lines, the harmony of the composition and the emotionality – which is very evident from the character in second place – immediately reveal the author’s strong and original temperament. The painting was exhibited for the first time during a solo show by the artist at the Cortina D’Ampezzo art gallery owned by the collector Mario Rimoldi.

Zurigo

He had no difficulty in integrating into the Swiss environment, his paintings fascinated local art lovers who immediately gave him a family welcome never forgotten by Bertagnin. The Straumbinger family introduced him to the Aldo Galli School where he was able to teach mosaic, while the family of Rene Perold made the dream of the Master Veneto come true by introducing him to the well-known sculptor.

Heinrich Martens who, interested in Bertagnin’s work, gave him the use of his studio in Zurich while he, by now old, was retiring outside Zurich.

Incognmita

Oil on panel Malacarne collection – Calalzo.

Work dating back to Bertagnin’s metsphysical experimentation, who on this occasion does not stop at a pure and simple application of the technique and patterns of the pictorial current, but continues to apply his elaborative filter to create an energetic and personal work.

Heinrich Martens

Heinrich Martens marked a new stage for Bertagnin, not as his master in sculpture, but also by giving up his studio in Zurich while he retired out of Zurich by seniority.

In the photo, above, the teacher Heinrich Martens with his wife and one of the girls.

Scultura

In Zurich, Bertagnin began working in the studio made available to him by Martens and alongside the creation of paintings with sculpture. Pictured and portrayed at the beginning of the creative process on a wooden sculpture.

Polaroid

In the early 1960s in Zurich, at the International Fair of New Technologies from the United States, Bertagnin sought the opportunity to be photographed with a new and innovative Polaroid camera.

Above we can see a detail of that snapshot.

Il Comodino

Charcoal sketch Concolato collection – Castlefranco.

As in Calalzo, there is no subject for Bertagnin in Zurich that is not worthy of being portrayed. Each object is a good subject and this black and white sketch is the proof of it. Once again the painter tells us about the world around him by communicating a feeling to us, and thus transmitting all his character and vitality to him.

La maschere

Bertagnin painting a horse, in the same period that he created the famous “Le Maschere” dpiinto, now belonging to a famous Roman collection.

Master Martens created many sculptures and busts of well-known personalities such as that of the scientist Albert Sweizer and that of the President of the United States, John Kennedy. Here in the photo we see the master Martens next to one of his works, a bust of a child.

Franco Bertagnin

In Marten’s studio at work under the teachings of Maestro Martens.

Il Padre

Pencil sketch of Maurizio Tomasi – Belluno collection.

While the padres, on a visit to Zurich, is reading the newspaper, the young painter paints this drawing in black and white. Ill Bertagnin loves to fix the moment, to capture a particular atmosphere and translate it into art. And the sure mastery and mastery of the communication medium allow this transformation.

Chelsea Studio

Welcomed Franco Bertagnin while working in his Chelsea London studio.

Parigi

In 1960 Franco Bertagnin began to spend long periods of study in Paris. Until 1964 he went to the French capital numerous times to study the great exponents of modern and contemporary painting live. In Paris, Bertagnin’s work stands out in Andre Bernard’s environment, a well-known meeting point for art exponents including Pablo Picasso.

Chaplin

Known characters belonging to the Parisian artistic environment of the 60-70s. This photo was sent to Franco Bertagnin, with attached a note of appreciation and congratulations for his work by the same artists portrayed: Charlie Chaplin, Andre Bernard, Mantias de Platas and Los Baliardos.

Manitas de Platas

Pencil sketch private collection – Paris.

Pencil sketch of the guitarist Manita de Platas during a concert of him. The sketch goes around the Parisian artistic environment and draws attention to the young artist and his work.

La chitarra

This photograph of Manita de Platas’s guitar signed by some exponents of the Parisian artistic circle and another gift as a sign of esteem that the painter received during one of his “study stays” in Paris. Among the signatures still stands out that of Chaplin and Piacasso.

Londra

Franco Bertagnin arrived in London and had a difficult start but in a short time he settled down with his studio at No.7 of Palace Gate, with a house at No.13 of Gloucester Road in the well-known district of Kensington. He finds time for sport and joins the “Prince of Wales” football team and during the winter he frequents the ski fields of the Dolomites. With the sale of the building where he had his studio, he moved to the vicinity of No. 1 in Emperor’s Gate and moved his home to the Fullham district, where non solos has a larger apartment with a garden, but is now located in an environment of artists. With the demolition of the house, having to live for the construction of a hotel, he buys an apartment in a building rebuilt in the house where the English painter lived. Burnes-Jones is a well-known haunt of pre-Raphaelite Victorian artists and is moved there with the family, being now married. Out of necessity to finance Bertagnin extends his works by learning the art of restoring old master paintings from the restorer Mori, and artistic decoration by the painter R. Topham and meeting the decorator L. Rich, who, given Bertagnin’s talent, introduces him in the works of high quality coming from many parts of the world, and thus the works of the master Bertagnin enter the ranks of museums, galleries and the most well-known annual exhibitions. When he reached the age of 60, he bought a house that was baptized “Villa Bertagnin” and in his garden he built a studio where he planned to totally dedicate his maturity to art and painting.

Gentleman

The Venetian artist fits perfectly into the London environment and does not take long to enter its spirit. As this photo clearly demonstrates!

Sua Naestra ka regina Elisabeta II

Bertagnin’s work and his activity in art introduced him to the British institutions of this London city, which through them, museums, schools, BBC television and press associations in their work are projected all over the world. Above we reproduce a photograph of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II chosen from among the many taken by the press association where Bertagnin was associated thanks to the introduction of the well-known photographer Tom Hustler.

Cafe Tiziano

Honoring the name of the famous Cadorino painter Tiziano Vecelio, the Florentine Umberto Ricci known for several years in the field of excellent Italian and European gastronomy, inaugurated in London on August 1st in the presence of journalists, photographers and well-known personalities; its luxurious restaurant Tiziano, as we see it in the photo, in the foreground Mr William Hoult and his lady, Mr Hoult is known as the best “Matre d’Hotel” in England and for many years has curated and enriched the name of the most famous London restaurants, its specialists also Queen Elizabeth II and the English royal family have always ordered and highly appreciated, in the second floor, the well-known painter Franco Bertagnin with his lady; Ricci was truly congratulated for Bertagnin’s presence, for his affirmations and for being a countryman of Titian.

Primo dipinto

Oil is pannelo De Menego – Calalzo collection.

Now belonging to the De Menego Venetian collection, the “Tower bridge” is the first London painting by the Venetian artist who in this way pays homage to the city where he has chosen to live and which has given him enormous satisfaction.

Dimora

Franco Bertagnin in Christmas 1964 in the US residence at number 13 Gloucester Road, near his London studio of that time.

Prima Commissione

Franco Bertagnin next to the painting “Windsor Castle” 1965 the first commission received by the artist in London.

Studio

Bertagnin portrayed at work on one of his works in the London studio of Palace Gate, in the Kensington district; it has always been a lively artistic and cultural center of the English capital. The painter Millet lived and created some of the most successful works near Bertagnin’s studio. It is therefore not a case that even the Italian artist has decided to open his studio in this area, so full of history and a favorite residential destination for illustrious members of the world of art, science and culture.

Colore

Oil on panel Leo Peruz collection – Calalzo.

Through the color Bertagnin creates a magical light, the masses that form the painting are coherent and of a personal stamp. We are fascinated by the life and freshness of the flowers that never wither.

Churchill

The sketch of the great English statesman Winston Churchill made by Franco Bertagnin at the time when the great politician lived a few houses away from the artist in Kensington. The sketch, together with about twenty other works by Bertagnin, was exhibited in a solo exhibition set up in 1983 at the Brompton Library in London.

Popolarità

Franco Bertagnin stands out through his works especially in the use of color in his works. He appears in the premiere of the weekly “Kessington News” and thereafter and consistently featured him on his works in various English and foreign publications.

Capolavori

Restoration, alongside painting, is one of Franco Bertagin’s main activities. The artist has obtained high recognition in this area, and he has been entrusted with numerous masterpieces, both ancient and modern, by both public bodies and private collections. In this photo and portrait during the restoration of one of these masterpieces, belonging to the New York collection of Lord Hindlip, president of the Christie’s art house.

F. Bertagnin

At work on one of his works.

F. Bertagnin

Al lavoro di restaurazione.

Rosa

From 1964 Franco Bertagnin moved permanently to London where he lives and works. In 1971 he married and had two children: Francesco and Rosa.The son Francesco Bertagnin having no tendency to art after having attended school and entered into the accounting of companies. The daughter Rosa Bertagnin attended school and at the same time devoted time to dance, joining the flamenco dance group. She annually she was present at the Flamenco Holy Mass in the church “Our Lady of the Holy Souls”. And on the pilgrimage to Aylesford where after the outdoor celebration there were several entertainments that produced a memorable day with several thousand in attendance. Above her we see her where she earned the Queen’s crown in 1989 during a beauty show in London, but she too, like her brother, has chosen to place her with a job at a large business company.

Decorazioni

Bertagnin with some brushstrokes has the ability to decorate in the classic high quality style or other required style. Above the Bertagnin and photographed while he is painting a flower decoration.

Membro onorario dell’Accademia

The certificate received by Bertagnin in 1972 from the “Columbian Academy of Arts” of Saint Lois with which he is appointed honorary member of the Academy for high merits in the field of figurative arts.

Residenze

Franco Bertagnin enters the most beautiful English residences to do decorative and artistic painting works. Above we see the artist retouching a large mural in the well-known Mortimer House.

Marmo

Franco Bertagnin Reproduces through painting over three hundred types of existing marbles. The marble has been used in the decorative setting through the centuries and the master has not only been able to reproduce every request of the original marbles, but at times he has been able to create imaginary marbles, with colors directly requested by the client, which are included according to the rules of art. with the existing decoration, as for example, we see him above, while he is mourning 4 columns closely linked to the existing decoration for a North American building where they will be placed after completion.

Burne-Jones

The original house where Burnes Jones lived, in the illustration above, while in the foreground Burne Jones and WIlliam Morris in the garden of the stressa, we add among the many personalities of the art circle who frequented it in that period D.C. Rossi and John Ruskin. The painter Franco Bertagnin also stands out as a restorer, he also restored Ruskin’s “desk” containing the famous collection of works by English artists.

Centenario “Burnes Jones”

In the photo the master Franco Bertagnin in the company of the local authorities at the inauguration ceremony of the commemorative plaque dedicated to “Burne Jones House” current home of the master Bertagnin. The Grange rebuilt in 1958, took the name of two important English artists; the famous Victorian painter Burne Jones and the father of the English novel Samuel Richardson, both of whom lived in that building.

L’imperatrice Guiseppina

For years Franco Bertagnin has been combining his work as a painter with that of a restorer, to which he dedicates himself with other success. And in addition to the restoration of paintings, it is also established in the restoration of antique furniture and furnishings. On this page we can see an example of his work in this field.

In the photo Bertagnin is preparing to surrender the “Empire style” cabinet (c. 1795) which had appeared to the empress. The wooden cabinet, covered in red leather, has gold handles and details and includes a jewelery box hidden under the lid, a folding desk, a sewing necessaire and two make-up boxes.

Regalità

For the seriousness and the high professional quality in his work, he is entrusted with the restoration of paintings and precious objects from the most famous English and foreign houses. Above Bertagnin during a restoration work on beliefs belonging to the English “Royal Family”.

Adios Pavlo

Bertagnin witnessed the modern art revolution directed by Picasso and understood its details and importance during lectures and studies presented during the readings by Dr. Enrico del Lotto in the hall of the Calalzo cooperative.

Through the owner of a hotel in France who personally knew Pablo Picasso, Bertagnin had the opportunity to be put in contact with the great master who, showing interest in his work, offered him work as an assistant in his French studio. Despite the tempting offer, Bertagnin’s parents did not agree due to his minor age.

The Venetian Aldo Bon, the most famous glass master at that time in Murano having heard about the qualities of Bertagnin, went to visit him in Calalzo and invited him to L’arte del veto had also fascinated Picassi who requested the presence of Aldo Bon in Franciac for the creation of some works.

In 1973, after the death of Pablo Picasso, Franco Bertagnin created a work dedicated to the master, reproduced above, which was exhibited and awarded with a plaque of honor at the international exhibition in Milan.

Visitatori

Franco Bertagnin’s work is now appreciated not only nationally, but also internationally, and the artist receives personalities from the world of culture and art from all over the world. On this page is reproduced a photo between ke favorite of the Venetian master who rites him next to Paloma Picasso, daughter of the great Pablo.

Millennio

Another example of the mastery and success of the master Bertagnin in the field of restoration. The sixteenth century painting attributed to F. Zucchero depicts Queen Elizabeth I, the greatest English woman. Celebrated during the end of the old and the beginning of the new mullennium. The work was exhibited in the great exhibition in the halls of the Olympia gallery in London.

Antica figura in terracotta

The work has undergone a complete restoration. Some missing parts, lost in the past, have been remodeled to perfection and the three statuettes have been restored to their original splendor through a meticulous cleaning job by the Italian painter and restorer Franco Bertagnin. Later the work of art was presented in the Sotheby’s 1987 catalog.

Restaurazione

Restoration of an ancient classical sculpture.

Il Pavone

Il Pavone work awarded at the international exhibition held in Milan in 1974.

Master Franco Bertagnin is entrusted with precious paintings made on different surfaces with a variety of techniques from all over the world, belonging to museums and private collections, for example we see him in the photo restoring an ancient four-seater “Settle” with ten paintings. and decorations, coming from the American “Vogham” collection in Palma Beach, while underneath one of the paintings in the process of being restored.

Open exhibition with the presence of Princess Margaret Countess of Snowdon.

In the riquardo, you can see the principle of Bertagnin’s work of decoration of the chair, while in the photo, you can see the dramatic change of the same, after the decorative introduction of the painting of the lines and the gold leaf. The new decoration was applied to the chair so as to be able to form part and complete the group of six chairs, from the same period, in perfect decorative harmony with the others, only differ, in each individual chair, in the diversity and originality of each floral painting of the backrest.

Royal Academy:
In 1982 the Royal Academy hosted an important exhibition of Japanese art, in this period Bertagnin was commissioned to restore the piece reproduced above. Note how the restoration of lacquer works requires great skill on the part of the restorer due to the difficulties that this work entails.

Padre Leopoldo

In Spain the tomb of this saint is visited by many thousands of faithful annually and the work of Bertagnin pictured above has been much appreciated and well received and expensive.

Here is one of the very valuable paintings entrusted to the care of the master Franco Bertagnin. The precious oil painting and the original wooden frame decorated with gold leaf have been meticulously restored.

Il Cavaliere

Work exhibited at the exhibition in the room of the Calalzo hotel in Calalzo di Cadore in 1974.

Young Wife

This is a portrait of my wife when she was in her 20s.

Horse Riding

Portrait of a man riding his horse one summer evening.

Dolomite Window

A view from a beautiful Alps window showing the Dolomite mountains in Italy.

Nonna’s Jug and fruit

Old tradition milk Jug measure passed down the family with fruit from the family tree.

Bunch Of Flowers

A lovely bunch of flowers brought for the wife to celebrate her birthday.

Morning Roses

A surprise for the wife on Valentines day. Lovely roses.

Basket of Fruit

This portrait was inspired by fruit picked from the garden.

Riding in the Country

This Portrait is painted for love of horses. Inspired by many trips to Andalucía.

Andalusia Horse

Portrait of a man in Jerez riding a horse whilst on holiday in the South of Spain.

Rise of the Roses