Portrait painting of a lady, mixed media on canvas-mounted paper, created by Franco Rognoni in the '70s

Ø cm 47 h cm 56 including frame

Franco Rognoni (Milan, September 20, 1913 – Milan, March 11, 1999) was an Italian painter and illustrator. After attending the Technical Schools of Weaving and the Higher School of Applied Art of the Sforza Castle, he devoted himself to drawing and painting. Already in 1934, he collaborated as a draftsman with important magazines and newspapers, and in 1938 he exhibited for the first time as a painter.
Critics have often highlighted influences from artists like Grosz, Chagall, and Ernst in his works. His style has been described as possessing "skill and cunning of an ancient goldsmith."
In the 1960s, his pictorial research focused on the human figure and city representations, later evolving towards themes related to dance and music, seeking to express vitality through color.

Rognoni used various techniques, including painting and graphics. Alongside painting, he continued his intense activity as an illustrator for the press and publishing, collaborating with important publishers and illustrating works by authors such as Leonardo Sciascia. He also created satirical drawings for Avanti!.

He frequently exhibited in Italy and abroad, also participating in the Venice Biennale and the Rome Quadriennale. In 1983, he was appointed corresponding academician of the National Academy of San Luca.
In the 1990s, his painting shifted towards a more intense chroma, with influences from Symbolism and Central European Expressionism.
Franco Rognoni passed away in Milan in 1999. His works continue to be exhibited in posthumous exhibitions and are present on the art market.