| Giuseppe Armani was born in Caci,
near Pisa, in 1935. Young Giuseppe, like many
children, loved to draw. Unlike most children,
however, drawing was practically his only game.
Every day Giuseppe sketched his discoveries of
life. His home was filled with drawings of imaginary
places, country scenes, real friends, imaginary
playmates and all the subjects that delight young
boys. Nearly everyone was impressed with the young
artist's work. It was colorful and fresh. Giuseppe's
unbridled talent fascinated his father. His teachers
also, observing his obvious skill, encouraged
him in his attempts.
Armani's father realized that his son's talent
was greater than just a mere ability to reproduce
subjects, and fully perceiving his artistic sensitivity,
it was decided that he would attend the Academy
of Fine Arts in Florence, so that he might develop
his natural talent.
Unfortunately for Giuseppe, his father died before
their plans could materialize, and he was forced
to abandon this project for more practical family
needs. The memory of his father's confidence in
him inspired the young artist to study on his
own, which was not easy. Caci is a small town
not offering much to study.
Giuseppe's professional career began when a priest
in a local church organized a small exhibition
of works by young artists. Armani entered a classically
inspired male torso, and his work was greatly
admired for its extraordinary anatomical precision.
When the torso was taken to an art gallery in
Pisa, Armani was hired immediately to work there
on a permanent basis.
Working in Pisa, for the first time Armani had
a chance to admire some of the great masterpieces
of the Renaissance personally, and he was captivated
by those classics. He spent hours contemplating
and understanding their secrets.
He began traveling around Tuscany, ever eager
for more artistic stimulation, looking for any
work of art from the past, from the famous masterpieces
in Florence to the inconspicuous minor frescoes
of a remote church hidden in the country.
Giuseppe Armani's unique and individual style
is probably due to the this solitary research,
not affected by any instructional prejudice: the
art he developed was entirely the result of his
personal relationship with the Masters of the
past.
During the time Armani worked in the art gallery
in Pisa, he sculpted in various materials such
as marble, alabaster, wood and clay, and became
most appreciated by countless art lovers from
around the world who visited the galler. His reputation
as an artist started and grew during his tenure
there.
In 1975, Florence Sculture d'Arte and Giuseppe
Armani commenced their extraordinary and exclusive
relationship, which created a unique opportunity
of sharing with people of different cultures and
traditions the emotions and the feelings of creating
works of art.
Giuseppe remained exclusively at the Florence
Sculture d'Arte till his passing in 2006. For
all his fame, Giuseppe never wondered far from
his roots. He generally worked in a studio attached
to his house, sculpting in isolation to the same
ancient rhythms of the old Masters. |