Leone Minassian (1905–1978; Armenian: Լևոն Մինասյան, romanizedLevon Minasyan) was an Italian painter and printmaker of Armenian descent.[1] His work is an important representative of European post-war abstract painting.[2] Minassian lived in Venice for more than 40 years.[3]

Leone Minassian
Լևոն Մինասյան
Born
Levon Zaki Minasyan

(1905-05-08)May 8, 1905
Died1978
Venice, Veneto, Italy
Other namesLevon Minasyan
EducationAccademia di Belle Arti di Venezia
Parent

Early life and education edit

Leone Minassian was born on May 8, 1905, in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire to Armenian parents.[4] His mother was writer Iskouhi Minas, and his father was Zhan Minasyan, the editor of the French periodical "Patri".[5][6] He started painting in this youth.[7]

Minassian has been attributed to studying art at Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia,[2][8] as well as under many notable artists, including Leonardo De Mango;[9] Albert Mille (1882–1946);[9] in Naples under Danish painter Axerl Jarl [da];[7] and in Venice under Italian painter Alessandro Milesi.[10]

Career edit

Minassian's early art was influenced by futurism, surrealism,[8] and the art of Giorgio De Chirico. He was friends with artists Alberto Viani, Giuseppe Santomaso,[11] Giorgio Morandi, and Jean Arp.[12]

After World War II, Minassian found his own painterly language and his art began to receive international attention. His pictures are characterized by intertwined, plant-like shapes and/or bodies in diverse colors. He took part in the group exhibitions II. documenta in Kassel in 1959,[13][14] and the Venice Biennale in 1961.[2] His work can be found in the art museum Ca' Pesaro in room 7.

References edit

  1. ^ "Minassian, Leone". De Gruyter. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  2. ^ a b c Romagnolo, Antonio (2000). Leone Minassian. Electa Mondadori. ISBN 8843573470.
  3. ^ Studio International. Vol. 175. Studio Trust. 1968. p. 150.
  4. ^ Platt, Kristin, ed. (1995). Armenien: 5000 Jahre Kunst und Kultur (in German). Museum Bochum. E. Wasmuth. p. 365. ISBN 978-3-8030-3066-5.
  5. ^ Leone Minassian 1905–1978. Pescheria Nuova, Rovigo. LCCN 96212756.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ^ "- Իսկուհի Մինաս". AV Production (in Armenian). Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  7. ^ a b Arte in Italia: 1935-1955 (in Italian). Università internazionale dell'arte. EDIFIR. 1992. p. 279. ISBN 978-88-7970-003-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ^ a b Kember, Pamela (2011-10-31). Minassian, Leone. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.b00123198. ISBN 978-0-19-989991-3. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. ^ a b Piai, Manuela (1976). Catalogo del fondo artistico (in Italian). La Biennale di Venezia. p. 1972.
  10. ^ Avédissian, Onnig (1959). Peintres et sculpteurs arméniens, du 19ème siècle à nos jours, précédé d'un aperçu sur l'art ancien (in French). Amis de la culture arménienne. p. 304.
  11. ^ Stringa, Nico (2017). "Santomaso, Giuseppe". Dizionario Biografico, Biographical Dictionary of Italians - Volume 90 (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  12. ^ Arp, Jean (1968). Jean Arp: Sculpture, His Last Ten Years. N. N. Abrams. p. 141.
  13. ^ "II. documenta - Retrospective". Documenta.de. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  14. ^ "Documenta 2 at Documenta Kassel". artmap.com. Retrieved 2022-08-28.