Alberto Zampieri

(Leghorn 1903 - Pisa 1992)

Biographical notes

1903

  • Alberto Zampieri was born on 15 January in a house in Piazza XX Settembre where he passed his childhood with his mother Teresa to whom he was always very close.

1916

  • At the age of thirteen Zampieri was very versatile, he played the violin, was very good at drawing (encouraged by Angiolo Tommasi), went to the Istituto Tecnico (where he was later awarded his diploma) and began painting in oils.
  • He worked tirelessly in the workshop of the Belle Arti run by Gustavo Mors who by purchasing some of his sketches from life encouraged him to persevere in following an artistic career.
  • He becomes part of the artistic circle of his birth town of Leghorn, makes friends with and respects "all the artists, first those who remained at home, later with those who gradually returned from the various fronts". He is one of the "Branca" of the Caffè Bardi, the famous and stimulating meeting place for artists.

1919

  • He experiments with Divisionism, producing works that strictly follow its theories, alternating them with more spontaneous studies.
  • Begins work as a caricaturist for the satirical Leghorn newspaper Don Chisciotte, under the name of "Obert". He later worked for other newspapers as a caricaturist, for example, the "Corriere di Livorno", the "Nuovo Giornale di Firenze".

1920

  • On 15 July the artists Baracchini Caputi, Cavagnaro, Cipriani, Cognetti, Guzzi, March, Michelozzi, Natali, Razzaguta, Renucci, Romanelli, Romiti, Tarrini, Zampieri and Zannacchini meet in Romito’s studio and form the famous Leghorn Group.
  • Zampieri takes part in the first exhibition organised by the Leghorn Group. The artist had already exhibited his work at local collective exhibitions (Pro Soldato - 1917, Pro Casa dell'Arte - 1919). From this time on Zampieri becomes a regular exhibiter in Leghorn and in other cities (Florence, Milan, Viareggio, Rome), but exclusively in collective exhibitions.

1923

  • Together with other Leghorn artists he founds the coterie the "Cenacolo degli illusi".

1924

  • He begins to get interested in methods of painting restoration he broadens his knowledge by studying the Old Italian masters, is a frequent visitor to museums and attends courses on restoration.

1926

  • He starts to restore old paintings. This work earns him a living and he continues to paint. He works for private and public organisations and collaborates with the Superintendency on the monuments of Florence.

1931

  • He moves to Pisa to work for the local Civic Museum that gives him important works to restore.
  • He lives in Via Manzoni, later in Via Vittorio Emanuele together with his wife Jole Bonaldi who is the owner of a small shop for women's accessories.

1932

  • He exhibits with the Leghorn Group in the historic Galleria Pesaro in Milan.

1938

  • Zampieri's painting "Venditore di frutta" (The Fruit Seller) exhibited in Florence at the Palazzo Pitti, is purchased by the King Vittorio Emanuele. The Royal Family buy another of Zampieri's works in 1940, at the 10th Leghorn Town Council Exhibition.

1945

  • Because of the volume of work commissioned by the museums in Genoa attached to Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Rosso Alberto he sets up a studio in Genoa where he works for three days.
  • Zampieri divides his time between work and art, for several years he shows works at numerous regional exhibitions.

1952

  • By invitation of Fortunato Bellonzi, he takes part in the "VI Quadriennale Nazionale d'Arte", Rome.

1956

  • He exhibits at the "VII Quadriennale Nazionale d'Arte", Rome.
  • The artist's mother dies in Pisa where she moved to be near to her sons Italo and Alberto.

1957

  • Work commitments force him to move to Genoa.

1959

  • He writes the introduction to the posthumous exhibition of his friend Mario Cocchi who had been like a brother to him.
  • Restoration work becomes increasingly challenging: from the late 50's the time Zampieri dedicates to his painting drops dramatically, his appearances at exhibitions suffers drastically for the entire decade.

1973

  • He returns to Leghorn for good, living in Via Zambelli.
  • Contact with the city, the places of his youth and with old friends, reawakens in Zampieri his enthusiasm for painting that had, however, never waned.
  • Without neglecting his restoration work, the artist begins to paint once more with renewed enthusiasm.

1976

  • He has his first anthological exhibition at the Bottega d'Arte where he exhibits paintings, watercolours and dry-point etchings.
  • The artist shows regularly at collective exhibitions.

1981

  • Zampieri is elected president of the Leghorn Group, a position that he holds until his death.

1982

  • His wife Jole dies.

1988

  • As president of the Leghorn Group the artist has the satisfaction of honouring a duty undertaken way back in 1920 by its founder members. After problems and never-ending administrative complications, Zampieri succeeds in what had by then become a dream - to pay homage to his artist friend Mario Puccini. He has his body taken to the Memorial Chapel of Montenero, to rest in eternal peace amongst the famous of Leghorn.

1991

  • The Parish of San Martino di Salviano organises the artist’s anthological exhibition.

1992

  • On 11 May Zampieri passes away in Pisa, with his loving nephew Alberto, who had been like a son to him, at his bedside.

Written by: Giovanna Bacci di Capaci Conti - Translated by: Catherine Biggerstaff

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