Annigoni: Portrait of an Artist

Annigoni: Portrait of an Artist is a 1995 documentary film about the life and times of Italian portrait painter Pietro Annigoni.

Production
Principal photography began in October 1990 in Florence, Italy, and lasted four years. Annigoni: Portrait of an Artist had its World Premiere on October 23, 1995, at the historic and largest movie theatre in Toronto, The Bloor Cinema. It played to sold-out audiences during its entire week long run. It was followed by the Italian premiere in Florence, Italy. The Television Broadcast Premiere was on BRAVO! on March 3, 1996.

Synopsis
The film begins with a panoramic shot of dark rain clouds gathering over the city of Florence. The voice over of Pietro Annigoni strains from beyond, "I signed my work using the cipher C followed by three crosses representing the via cruicis, the hard road to the cross which the artist must travel." The story that follows is based on Annigoni's diaries, documenting his work, his travels, his loves but mostly his thoughts on life and art.

Major film locations

 * Convent of San Marco, Florence
 * Palazzo Venerosi-Pesciolini, Florence
 * Santo Spirito, Florence
 * Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Florence
 * Florence Academy of Art
 * Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
 * Convento del Bosco ai Frati, San Piero a Sieve
 * Cattedrale di San Antonio, Padova
 * Chiesa di San Martino, Castagno d'Andrea Italy
 * Mount Falterona, Castagno d'Andrea Italy
 * La Stazione di Sante Maria Novella, Florence
 * Ghislieri College, Pavia
 * Montecatini, Italy
 * Rainbow Studios, Florence, Italy
 * Artatak Films, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Original music soundtrack
Original music from Annigoni: Portrait of an Artist, performed in concert from Florence on YouTube.

Stefano Burbi composed and conducted the award-winning musical score for the film. His orchestra, The Orchestra da Camera Nova Harmonia di Firenze was created for the film and now continues as Mr. Burbi's orchestra. A sample of the soundtrack of Stefano Burbi: Suite dalle musiche per il film 'Annigoni: Portrait of an Artist' soundtrack can be found below in external links.

Burbi describes his inspiration for Annigoni as, "music of memory and nostalgia, it is melancholic because we remember, like Annigoni, a paradise lost".

Awards and honors

 * Best Musical Score - 1996 Hot Docs International Film Festival
 * Award of Merit - Arts & Humanities - 1996 Chicago International Film Festival