Umberto Franciosi Biography
Umberto Franciosi was an Italian painter, born in Brescia on 14 July 1883 and died in the same city on 3 January 1917. After attending the Moretto School with Cesare Bertolotti as a teacher, he participated in the Exhibition of Modern Art in 1902. In 1904, at just 21 years old, he was the youngest exhibitor with three portraits at the Brescia Exhibition.
In 1911, thanks to the intervention of Angelo Dall'Oca Bianca, he attended Cesare Tallone's courses and those of pictorial anatomy at the Brera Academy, where he particularly distinguished himself in portraiture. In 1912 he exhibited portraits of the sculptor Bardetti and his wife, which were particularly appreciated.
Returning to Brescia in 1913, he married Eugenia Previ and from their marriage two little girls were born, Rosetta and Umbertina, born a few days after her father's death. After his death, he seemed to be forgotten, but his works were exhibited in the Gruppo amici dell'Arte in 1918 and in 1924 a posthumous exhibition was organized in his honor by the Campana brothers.
In 1934, his works were included in the 19th century Brescia painting exhibition, and in 1964 a retrospective exhibition was organized by the Sorsoli art shop. His works are still present in the Pinacoteca Tosio-Martinengo, including three portraits, an allegorical triptych and a pastel.
Umberto Franciosi has been described as a "true Murger-like bohemian" with a mobile and whimsical personality. He dedicated himself mainly to portraiture, aiming above all at the realistic rendering also achieved by means of easy luministic effects.
He died in Brescia on 3 January 1917.
