Giovanni
& Maria
Master painter, custodian of Alpine divisionism
"For me, drawing has always been a second language, one that has always allowed me to express myself even when words were not enough." — Giovanni Monti
About
An artist who
painted all
his life
Giovanni Monti was born in Arco on 10 September 1932, the second of four children, to Ida Chiarani and Rodolfo — a master tinsmith craftsman. From childhood he displayed uncommon creative gifts: drawing, clay, copper. A silent second language that would accompany him throughout his life.
After compulsory school, Giovanni worked in the workshop with his father, yet in his rare free moments he always found time for his creativity: wrought iron, modelling, ornamental and technical drawing. He was never still.
From the parish hall where he painted theatrical backdrops, to the Scout group where his dexterity was essential, from the SAT choir of Arco — where he was also a solo voice — to the restoration of vintage cars and motorbikes rebuilt with near-obsessive precision. A man capable of creating something from nothing.
"His Author's Copies are true iconographic reinterpretations of the art of the celebrated painter from Arco. Monti instinctively translates the atmosphere of each painting, infusing his canvases with the emotion the image conveyed to him."
World's foremost expert on Segantini's art
"In all my years travelling the world, I have seen only poor copies. Giovanni Monti's are without a doubt the finest I have ever seen. An extraordinary quality that conveys genuine emotion."
Descendant of the Segantini family · Exhibition at the Casinò di Arco