ArtistAgostini, Tony

Artist Years1916-1990

Artist NationalityFrench

TitleHomage a Picasso

Yearca. 1960

MediumPainting > Oil

DimensionsCanvas: 36 X 29 inches

Accession NumberRC1574

NotesTony (Peter) Agostini (1916-1990) was a French painter and lithographer, born on April 29, 1916, in Bastia, Corsica. A self-taught artist, he began painting in 1946, initially focusing on the movements of crowds and nocturnal scenes of Paris. Over time, he shifted towards landscapes, studio interiors, and especially still life, a major theme in his lithographic work.

Agostini was significantly influenced by Gen Paul in his use of colour and adhered to the strict principles of form as dictated by Cézanne, sometimes incorporating elements of cubism. In 1944, after an early administrative career, he met Gen Paul, Francis Carco, and Marcel Aymé in Montmartre, which inspired him to dedicate his life to painting.

From 1953 onwards, Agostini exhibited at several annual shows in Paris, including the Salon: Painters Witnesses of Time (1955), and the annual School of Paris at Galerie Charpentier. He also participated in thematic exhibitions like Discover 1955, the Greenshields Prize (1957, 1961), and Shapes and Colours (1957). Additionally, he showcased his work at the Salon des Tuileries and various group shows abroad.

Agostini had numerous solo exhibitions from 1947 onwards, notably at Paris Gallery Visconti (1951-1952), Galerie Charpentier (1957-1963), and in New York and San Francisco (1960). In 1957, he moved to Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, where he lived until his death in 1990.

Agostini’s oeuvre, influenced by Gen Paul and Cézanne, evolved from depicting the vibrant life of Paris to mastering the art of still life, cementing his place in the French art scene.
(source: Grear Babyan Art)