Pierre Ambrogiani, Oil on Canvas, 1970s

Pierre Ambrogiani (1907-1985) was born in Ajaccio, Corsica. He grew up in the port of Marseille, where at the age of 12 he became a telegraph boy. It was not until 1937 that Ambrogiani decided to devote his life to art, like his brothers Pascal and Toussaint (who worked as Toussaint d'Orcino) and sister, Helene. Pierre was an expressionist mostly known for his wild, colourful palette of vibrant still-lifes and Provencal landscapes. He received the Prix International de la Biennale de Menton in 1951, the Grand Prix des Peintres Témoins de leur Temps in 1967, and the Prix du Gemail in 1968. In 1962, he was commissioned to decorate the Immaculate Conception of Marseille church with frescoes and stained glass windows. A major retrospective of his art was held at the Musée de la Vieille Charité de Marseille in 1973, with an important catalogue. A prolific artist, Ambrogiani created more than 1500 paintings, seven sculptures, 1200 drawings and watercolours and 300 prints over his lifetime. His works are exhibited and collected worldwide and have sold widely at major auction houses over the decades increasing in value with time.