Oscar Ghiglia

Oscar Ghiglia, born in Livorno on August 23, 1876, and died in Prato on June 14, 1945, was a prominent Italian painter of the early twentieth century. Son of Giuseppe Valentino, of Piedmontese origin, and Maria Lucia Bartolini, a Livornese milliner, Ghiglia began his artistic career as a self-taught painter. In the 1890s, he frequented Livornese artists Ugo Manaresi and Guglielmo Micheli, where he met Amedeo Modigliani, Antonio De Witt, and Llewelyn Lloyd. His painting style evolved rapidly, moving away from late-naturalistic methods toward an autonomous and modern style influenced by French post-impressionism and the Nabis school, emphasizing color clarity and form simplification.
In 1901, he exhibited his Self-Portrait at the Venice Biennale, marking the start of his success. In 1904, he participated in the Saint Louis International Exposition, winning a bronze medal with the work "Medusa." 
Throughout his career, Ghiglia was supported by critic Ugo Ojetti and participated in major exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale and the 1935 Rome Quadriennale. In 1929, he exhibited alongside his painter sons Valentino and Paulo at the Galleria Pesaro in Milan. His artistic production, characterized by refined technique and intense chromatic research, is mainly preserved in private collections today. Despite the rise of fascism and personal hardships, Ghiglia maintained a strong artistic commitment until his death in 1945.