Franco Rossi, born in Florence July 24, 1947.
Self-taught, he never attended any schools of painting. Left the drawing after middle school, he continued to cultivate the art of pure passion. The beginning of his painting career dates back to 1963. At first, the landscapes alternated to still life until, in 1973, the single-color type began characterizing his paintings. After an initial series of nudes and landscapes, the variety of images began to represent for the artist a way to externalize an emotion, a feeling not otherwise communicable. Therefore, we refer to the monochromatic period as the beginning of what its present painting is now able to achieve. Since then, switched by the technique of oil painting to acrylic in the early ’80s, his steady progression in the research was almost always accompanied by a production of small landscapes and still life, paintings that were made between a composition and another large, the latter precisely descriptive of the deepest emotions. The painting of Franco Rossi can no longer be defined for years simply a painting as a hobby or passion. His painting is in fact determined solely by the need to portray an image metaphorically with a feeling, a mood, an emotion concealed in the depth and otherwise destined to remain there. For this reason, and for a typically Florentine character, he has never been particularly interested in the world of exhibitions, awards, critics, counting to his credit (see list below) many exhibitions and various sponsorships of Municipalities and the Ministry of Cultural heritage. The most important thing for the artist is to be only able to express and communicate a message that is immediately understood, a message which, starting from the depths of his soul, has a unique destination on the depths of others. The approximately one thousand canvases painted in over half a century are scattered in collections throughout the world. How about him was written, “It’s hard to define the style, albeit realistic, given the peculiarities of technique and theme. The official criticism has failed to frame it in any of the known current. An innovator, then? “. Probably yes.
1963 – he starts his pictorial work;
1976 – magazine “Pan Arte” devotes him a long article
1977 – magazine “Pan Arte” devotes him again with a ten pages article
1977 – exhibition in Florence, via Ghibellina
1977 – exhibition in Florence, borgo S. Jacopo
1977 – exhibition at Papaiano (Siena)
1978 – exhibition in Florence, at General Office of Banca Toscana
1978 – exhibition at Papaiano (Siena)
1978 – exhibition at San Lucchese Abbey (Poggibonsi – Siena)
1979 – Bolaffi catalogue, the most important italian publication about art, publishes his official valuations
1979 – member of Art Gallery “Il Machiavello”
1979 – exhibition at Civitella Val di Chiana (Arezzo)1979 – exhibition at Incisa Val D’Arno (Florence)
1979 – exibition in the Church of S. Lorenzo in Poggibonsi (Siena)
1980 – he decides to leave the world of exhibitions and to paint freely
1996 – he decides to come back to the world of exhibitions: he shows his paintings in Florence, at Palazzo dei Congressi
1997 – exhibition in Florence, Palazzo dei Congressi
1997 – exhibition in Empoli, Palazzo Ghibellino
1998 – exhibition in Empoli, Palazzo Ghibellino
1998 – exhibition in Florence, at ex Convent of Basilica of St. Maria del Carmine
1999 – he enters Japanese market
2000 – exhibition in Florence, villa Guicciardini
2001- exhibition at La Gaude (France)
2001 – exhibition in Yokohama (Japan)
2001 – exhibition in Florence – Villa Strozzi
2002 – partecipation in Prize F.lli Alinari “Terra d’Arno”
2003 – exibition in Florence – Villa Strozzi
2003 – Founder Member of Circle “Salon des Refuses”
2004 – 1th exibition of Circle “Salon des Refuses” in Florence – Caffè Porta Romana
2004 – Personal exibition at Starhotel Vespucci (Campi Bisenzio – Florence) since April ,18th to August, 27th.
2004 – exibition in Florence – Villa Strozzi
2005 – Siena, Nobil Contrada del Bruco, for the victory of the 2nd July Palio, orders a picture and puts it into its own Headquarters
2006 – personal exibition in the Rocca of Castellina in Chianti (Siena) since 20th to 28th May
EXIBITION WORKS
2006 – August: Personal exibition in Montecastelli Pisano (PI)
2006 – December: exibition in Firenze – Villa Strozzi
2006 – personal exibition in the Monteriggioni castle (SI) since 26th december 2006 to 7th january 2007
2007 – february: on sale in library “L’incanto”, book by Nadia Corsi, inspired by the emotions raised from the artist’s paints.
The cover reproduces a detail from ”Respiro” paint.”.
2007 – ARTE magazine, the most important in Italy, on own initiative draws attention to the website of the artist on the number of Jenuary.
2007 – February: “Passaparola”, official magazine of the Banca Toscana, dedicates a long article to the just concluded personal exibition in Monteriggioni (SI).
2007 – February: “Filodiretto”, official magazine of Group Monte dei Paschi di Siena, publishes a long interview to the artist, accompanied by photos and mention about the website.
2007 – March: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the last paint of the artist.
2007 – March: Exibition in S.Ansano (SI).
2007 – Personal exibition in Roma Trastevere ( Studio Logos Gallery ) since April, 28th to May, 10th.
2007 – May: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the two last paints of the artist and publishes the calendar of his next personal exibitions.
2007 – personal exibition in Castellina in Chianti (Siena) since 19th to 27th May.
2007 – August: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the three last paints of the artist.
2007 – October: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the two last paints of the artist.
2007 – personal exibition in the Monteriggioni castle (SI) since 24th october to 4th november 2007.
2007 – first personal retrospective exibition in the Monteriggioni castle (SI) since 26th December 2007 to 7th january 2008.
2008 – April: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the last paints of the artist and publishes the calendar of his next personal exibitions.
2008 – With the Support of theTown of Castellina in Chianti, personal exibition in Castellina in Chianti (Siena) since 30th April to 11th May.
2008 – Col Patrocinio del Comune di Castellina in Chianti, mostra personale dal 30 Aprile – 11 Maggio.
2008 – July: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the two last paints of the artist.
2008 – September: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the two last paints of the artist.
2008 – personal exibition in the Monteriggioni castle (SI) since 23rd october to 2nd november.
2009 – January: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the four last paints of the artist.
2009 -March: With the Support of Beni e Attività Culturali Ministry personal exibition “Il colore delle emozioni” in Consiglio della Regione Toscana Seat in Florence – Panciatichi Palace – from March, 30th to April, 7th.
2009 – April: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the personal exibition of the artist underway in Florence – Panciatichi Palace.
2009 – April: Television SKY Italian Channel 882 transmits the inauguration of the personal exibition in Florence -Panciatichi Palace.
2009 – September: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the next anthological exibition of the artist in the Monteriggioni castle (SI) and to his last works.
2009 – personal anthological exibition in the Monteriggioni castle (SI) since 18th to 27th September.
2011 – April: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the next personal exibition of the artist in Castellina in Chianti (SI).
2011 – With the Support of theTown of Castellina in Chianti, personal exibition ” Intimamente” in Castellina in Chianti (Siena) since 1 May to 15 May. The paints of the artist amalgamated with the poems by Tea Panuccio.
2011 – August: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the next personal exibition of the artist in Castellina in Chianti (SI).
2011 – With the Support of theTown of Castellina in Chianti, reply of the personal exibition ” Intimamente” in Castellina in Chianti (Siena) since 16 August to 28 August. The paints of the artist amalgamated with the poems by Tea Panuccio
2011 – Agosto: La rivista “Filodiretto” dedica un articolo alla prossima mostra personale dell’artista a Castellina in Chianti (SI).
2011 – September – Exibition in Florence – Galleria Billeci Immobiliare – piazza Mascagni.
2012 – April: “Filodiretto” magazine dedicates an article to the 2 next personal exibitions of the artist in Castellina in Chianti (SI) and in Monteriggioni (SI)
2012 – With the Support of theTown of Castellina in Chianti, personal exibition ” Castelli di sabbia” in Castellina in Chianti (Siena) since 20 to 29 April . The paints of the artist amalgamated with the poems by Tea Panuccio.
2012 – Reply of the personal exibition ” Castelli di sabbia” in Monteriggioni(Siena) since 26 May to 2 June.
2013 – With the Support of theTown of Castellina in Chianti, personal exibition “Sognando” in Castellina in Chianti (Siena) since 22 to 29 April. The paints of the artist amalgamated with the poems by Tea Panuccio.
2013 – July/August – Exibition in Florence – Galleria Billeci Immobiliare – piazza Mascagni.
2014 – Exibition in Barberino V/E (FI) since 13th to 21st September.
2018 – Exibition at Casa Schlatter– Florence- since May ,19th to May, 25th.
2019 – November: Voce Nostra magazine and the website CRALgiàBT dedicate a long article to the personal exibition of the artist in Florence – Villa Vogel.
2019 – Personal exibition in Florence – Limonaia of Villa Vogel – since 9th to 17th November
2021 – With the Support of theTown of San Casciano V/P, personal exibition ” Fuori dal Coro” in San Casciano V/P (FI) since 18 September to 21 November at Museo Ghelli and in Mercatale V/P (FI) since 20 November to 9 Jenuary 2022 at Centro Lotti.
In general:
More than 900 paintings all over Italy;
Works in Switzerland, France, Norway, U.S.A., England, Germany, Holland, Spain, Balì, China, Russia, Japan, Australia, Nigeria, Repubblica di San Marino, Canada, Argentine and Slovakia;
Works at Archbishop’s palace in Siena (“Jesus’ Flogging”) in Sala delle Udienze;
Works in Tokyo at universities, hospitals, privat houses, etc;
Works in Siena at Alba Society of Nobil Contrada del Bruco;
canvas “In a bed of grapes” in the Castellinarte collection of the town of Castellina in Chianti (Siena);
canvas “Pansè di Cielo” in the Castellinarte collection of the town of Castellina in Chianti (SI);
canvas “Castellina in Chianti” in the Castellinarte collection of the town of Castellina in Chianti (SI);
Couples who get married in the Rocca of Castellina are given by the Town Council lithographies on canvas taken from this painting, as a wedding present.
Canvas “Perchè domani sarà un giorno lungo e senza parole” acquired by Consiglio delle Regione Toscana;
Canvas “Vertine” in the Castellinarte collection of the town of Castellina in Chianti (Siena);
Canvas “Cristallo spezzato” in the Castellinarte collection of the town of Castellina in Chianti (Siena);
Costanza Riva (author of “Boboli, il giardino alchemico” and “La grande grotta di Boboli, laboratorio di meraviglio”) chooses to publish on her books 3 works of the artist to ricreate interior emotions highlighted by the peculiarity of treated pictorial subjects;
Canvas “Colonica in Chianti” in the Castellinarte collection of the town of Castellina in Chianti (Siena);
Canvas “Casale in Chianti” in the Castellinarte collection of the town of Castellina in Chianti (Siena);
Several times mentioned in Italian newspapers and magazines.
