Leone Minassian
Armenian-Italian painter (1905–1978)
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Leone Minassian (1905–1978; Armenian: Լևոն Մինասյան, romanized: Levon Minasyan) was an Ottoman Empire-born 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]
May 8, 1905
Leone Minassian | |
|---|---|
Լևոն Մինասյան | |
| Born | Levon Zaki Minasyan May 8, 1905 |
| Died | 1978 Venice, Veneto, Italy |
| Other names | Levon Minasyan |
| Education | Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia |
| Mother | Iskouhi Minas |
Early life and education
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;[7] and in Venice under Italian painter Alessandro Milesi.[10]
Career
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.