Vittorio Bolaffio (3 June 1883, in Gorizia – 26 December 1931, in Trieste) was an Italian painter.

Biography

Bolaffio was born in Gorizia on 3 June 1883, to Amodeo (or Amadio) and Pia Gentilomo.^[1] His father owned arable land, and traded in wines;^[2] his family was of Jewish origin, of comfortable economic conditions.^[3] Having spent his early years mainly in Palmanova, Bolaffio was initially trained in Trieste, studying under Giovanni Cossar and Italico Brass: it was his teachers who advised him to continue his education in Florence and to turn to Giovanni Fattori.^[1][3] Between 1900 and 1902 he attended the artist's studio, and in a course held by Fattori he met Amedeo Modigliani.^[1][3] In 1907 Bolaffio joined the Trieste artistic circle, and in 1909 opened a studio in Trieste.^[3] In 1910 he went to Paris, where Modigliani also resided: the latter brought him into contact with the Parisian art environment, and Bolaffio met and was inspired by Matisse, Cézanne, and Gauguin.^[3]

After spending a period in Trieste after returning from Paris, in 1912 Bolaffio decided to embark as a fireman on the ships of the Lloyd Triestino and made numerous trips, reaching Asia.^[1][3] In 1913 he returned to Italy and was able to exhibit in Naples some paintings inspired by his travels to the East.^[3] Bolaffio was then called to arms at the outbreak of the First World War, and took part in the entire conflict, remaining deeply shocked.^[3] In 1919, when the war was over, he returned to live in Trieste.^[3] He made numerous portraits of illustrious personalities of the day, including Umberto Saba, Dario De Tuoni and Ruggero Rovan.^[3] In 1926 his father died and Bolaffio isolated himself from public life.^[3] On 15 December 1931 he donated the work Triptych of the Port to the Revoltella Museum.^[3] He died in Trieste on 26 December 1931.^[1][4]

References