Photographer Giovanni Chiaramonte dies at 75

Giovanni Chiaramonte, a leading figure in Italian photography, has died in Milan at age 75. Born in Varese in 1948, he was a refined photographer, scholar, and exhibition organizer. A graduate in Philosophy from Università Cattolica di Milano under Gianfranco Bettetini, he was deeply influenced by cinema and the work of Andrei Tarkovsky. Chiaramonte was a close friend of Luigi Ghirri, with whom he co-founded the publishing house Punto e Virgola and produced the seminal volume "Viaggio in Italia." He later worked with Jaca Book on photographic publishing. A man of faith, his philosophical and metaphysical approach to imagery set him apart. A forthcoming exhibition dedicated to Ghirri at Centro Culturale di Milano will feature his work. Chiaramonte was also known for mentoring young photographers and delivering captivating lectures, often with his eyes closed. Critic Angela Madesani notes that despite numerous publications, a comprehensive survey of his influential, iconographically original research is still lacking.