Paesaggio toscano (1995) Painting by Silvestro Pistolesi

Silvestro Pistolesi was born on November 28, 1943, in Florence, a city that would deeply influence his artistic vocation. From a young age, he demonstrated a natural talent for drawing, which led him to enroll in the School of Art at Porta Romana and later at the Accademia Cappiello, where he deepened his knowledge of painting techniques. His education continued in the studio of Nerina Simi, a renowned Florentine artist.In 1961, during a Franciscan youth meeting in Montughi, he met Antonio Ciccone, a student of the famous master Pietro Annigoni. Thanks to this encounter, Pistolesi was introduced to Annigoni’s studio, where he worked for a decade, refining his style and mastering techniques such as “glazing,” which would become one of his artistic trademarks.His exhibition career began with his first solo show in 1972 at the Arts Unlimited Gallery in London, which brought him to the attention of the international art critics. However, it is through sacred art that Pistolesi truly distinguished himself, creating significant frescoes. Among his early works, in 1967 and 1974, are *The Supper at Emmaus* and *The Old Woman* in the Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Ponte Buggianese. However, his work at the Abbey of Montecassino in 1993 marked a pivotal moment in his career, with frescoes such as *The Supper at Emmaus* in the monastery’s refectory and the panels in the third chapel of the left nave of the Abbey, depicting *Saint Paul Writing the Letters*, *Saint Peter in Prison*, and the altarpiece *The Meeting of Saint Peter and Saint Paul*.His works can also be admired in the Church of San Francesco in Montecatini Terme, as well as in other sacred sites like the Sanctuary of La Verna and the Abbey of Vallombrosa.Pistolesi masters a wide range of techniques, from tempera grassa to etching, from fresco to sanguine, always maintaining a modern-Renaissance approach, at the boundary between symbolism and magical realism. His works are often described as dreamlike interpretations, with hermits searching for the Truth. Among his many portraits, the most notable are those of Prof. Cooley of Houston, Cardinal Stickler, the Vatican librarian, and Pope John Paul II.Silvestro Pistolesi is recognized not only for his extraordinary technical skill but also for the spiritual intensity of his works, placing him among the great masters of contemporary sacred art.

• Nationality: ITALY
• Date of birth : 1943
• Artistic domains: Works by professional artists, Represented by a Gallery,
• Groups: Professional Artist Contemporary Italian Artists Artists presented by a gallery