Guido Borgianni (1915–2011, Florence), Portrait with blue tie, 1952, signed and dated

Guido Borgianni (1915–2011, born in New York – active in Florence), Portrait with blue tie, 1952, signed and dated

Oil on canvas

With frame: 64 x 86 cm

Without frame: 44 x 65 cm

Guido Borgianni, born in New York in 1915 and raised in Florence, was one of the most prolific and beloved painters of the Italian mid-20th century. A natural-born artist, he painted tirelessly: during hard times he used whatever he could find — old fabrics, scraps of cardboard, even shoe polish and toothpaste as pigments. His unstoppable drive to paint turned every surface into an occasion for art.

He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence under Felice Carena, from whom he inherited both discipline and freedom. From the very beginning critics noticed his originality: Giulio Carlo Argan praised him among the most authentic figurative voices of postwar Florence, while writers like Montale and Pratolini admired his energy and sincerity.

Italian painting has always shown an exceptional sensitivity to light and color, and Borgianni stands firmly in this tradition. Although not part of Impressionism, his language resonates with it: after World War II he remained committed to figuration, but infused it with experimentation — Divisionist touches, Expressionist accents, and a virtuosic layering of colors that created dazzling optical effects. His painting radiates energy, individuality and vitality, proving how figuration could be both modern and deeply innovative.

This 1952 portrait demonstrates his virtuosity: dense brushstrokes form a symphony of boldly juxtaposed colors, capturing both vitality and psychological depth. The brown coat and blue tie are rendered with energetic strokes, while the neutral background enhances the sitter’s individuality. Up close, the overlapping brushwork reveals warm chromatic layers modeling flesh and shadows with vibrancy.

Signed and dated lower left “G. Borgianni – 1952”.

Frame in gilded wood.

Condition: good, with natural patina of time.

Guido Borgianni (New York 1915 – Florence 2011) exhibited widely: the Rome Quadriennale (1946), the Venice Biennale (from 1956), and major shows in Florence, Milan, Rome, Paris and London. He was awarded the Fiorino National Prize in Florence (1950) and First Prize at the Portrait Exhibition in Casa di Dante (1957).

His works are preserved in public collections, including:

– Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Palazzo Pitti, Florence

– Museo del Novecento, Florence

– Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Rome

– Vasari Corridor, Florence (Self-portrait Collection)

– Kunsthalle, Bielefeld (Germany