Bruno Miniati Biography
Bruno Miniati was born in Livorno in 1889 and was a famous local photographer. As a young man, he attended the Municipal School of Arts and Crafts, where he studied drawing under the direction of Guglielmo Micheli, a pupil of Fattori. Here he also met Amedeo Modigliani and Mario Puccini, with whom he developed a great interest in art.
In 1909, Miniati enlisted as a volunteer in the 88th infantry regiment to help the populations affected by the earthquake in Messina and Reggio. In 1911, with the rank of infantry corporal, he participated in the war in Libya. In 1915, still a volunteer, he took part in the First World War as a photographer for the Italian army. Unfortunately, on the Carso, his older brother Ezio died in battle.
In 1935, Miniati participated in the war in Abyssinia as a lieutenant and photographer of the Istituto Luce. In 1940-1941, he fought in the campaigns of France, Albania and Greece, receiving numerous decorations, including bronze medals and four war crosses.
During the interwar period, Miniati became a public figure in his city, associating with artists and intellectuals of the time. He was also the King's official photographer on numerous occasions. In the 1950s and 1960s, he worked as a photographer for the Naval Academy, following the cruises of the training ships Vespucci and Montecuccoli.
Miniati died in 1971, but his photographic work continues to be appreciated and preserved today.
