Frediano Farsetti, influential Italian gallerist and auction house founder, dies at 91
Frediano Farsetti, an influential figure in the Italian art scene, passed away at the age of 91. He was born in 1934 near Florence and relocated to Prato in 1952. Together with his brother Franco, he established a gallery on Via dei Cimatori in 1955, followed by a more formal gallery on Via Lanaioli in 1957. In 1991, he launched a significant headquarters in Prato, designed by Italo Gamberini. Farsetti was responsible for initiating the first modern art auction in central Italy in 1962 and curated a retrospective of Ottone Rosai in 1996. Throughout his career, he organized over 200 auctions, showcasing more than 106,000 artworks. In 2021, he opened a venue in Cortina d'Ampezzo for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, emphasizing the importance of passion, luck, and vision in art.
Key facts
- Frediano Farsetti died at age 91
- Born in 1934 near Florence, moved to Prato in 1952
- Opened first gallery with brother Franco in 1955
- Founded Farsettiarte auction house with branches in Prato, Milan, and Cortina
- 1991 Prato headquarters designed by Italo Gamberini, adjacent to Centro Pecci
- Organized first modern art auction in central Italy covered by RAI in 1962
- Curated 1996 Ottone Rosai retrospective at Palazzo Reale, Milan, opened by President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
- Over 200 auctions, 106,000 works presented; Uffizi acquired Guttuso's 'Battaglia di Ponte dell'Ammiraglio' in 2004
- 2021 opened Cortina venue in ex-Funivia Pocol complex for 2026 Winter Olympics
Entities
Artists
- Frediano Farsetti
- Franco Farsetti
- Ottone Rosai
- Filippo de Pisis
- Ardengo Soffici
- Giorgio Morandi
- Renato Guttuso
- Italo Gamberini
- Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
Institutions
- Farsettiarte
- Galleria degli Uffizi
- Centro Pecci
- Palazzo Reale di Milano
- RAI
Locations
- Prato
- Florence
- Milan
- Cortina d'Ampezzo
- Italy
- Via dei Cimatori
- Via Lanaioli
- ex-Funivia Pocol