Enrico Leone Donati Italian American Vintage Gouache Drawing Mixed Media Original Surreal Composition Fine Art Painting

Enrico Leone Donati, (1934-2008), a prominent Italian American Surrealist, studied economics in Pavia, Italy before turning his attention to avant-garde music and ultimately painting in Paris, in the early 1930's at the École de la rue de Berri. There, the young Donati discovered the Surrealists and knew his destiny. Also discovered the sacred artifacts of the Native Americans in a museum in Paris. Determined to learn more about them and their ways, he traveled to the American Southwest and Canadian Northwest, living and trading with the people and learning their myths, before returning to Paris.
In 1939, moved his young family to New York to escape the growing threat of war in Europe. Held his first exhibition at the New School of Social Research, where André Breton, leader of the Surrealist Movement, saw the work and immediately embraced it. Recognized as a new voice for Surrealism, the young artist found himself welcomed into the melange of expatriate and American artists at the center of the New York art scene. He helped Marcel Duchamp organize the Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme in 1947 at the Galerie Maeght in Paris. Created the sculptural "moonscape" paintings and later the "fossil" series, which became extraordinarily successful throughout the 1950's through the early 60's, during the height of the Abstract Expressionist movement. While his painting style continued to evolve throughout the rest of his career, he always thought of himself as a Surrealist. A solo exhibition was held at the San Francisco DeYoung Museum of Art in 2007. Enrico Donati passed away in 2008, at his home in Manhattan, at the age of 99.

Enrico Leone Donati
(1934-2008)
Painting measures approximately 13.5" X 20.75", (showing). 20"X27.5" are the measurements, behind the glass and frame. Painting is still sealed in frame. (Painting is possibly larger than what is viewable, from frame)
Estimated at approximately 1985
Gouache, Drawing; Mixed Media
Surreal Composition
Very good to excellent condition. No flaws; preserved behind glass frame.

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