Photographer Milton Gendel dies in Rome at 99
Milton Gendel, who was born in New York, passed away in Rome just a month shy of his 100th birthday on December 16. A significant contributor to cultural exchanges following World War II, he formed friendships with notable artists such as Robert Motherwell and André Breton. In Rome, he worked as a correspondent for ArtNews, advocating for artists like Alberto Burri. Gendel's photography illustrated themes of neorealism and the 'Dolce Vita.' He co-established the Rome-New York Art Foundation and acted as commissioner for the US Pavilion at the 1977 Venice Biennale, where his 1962 photographs are regarded as masterpieces. His collection was recently donated to Fondazione Primoli, and a book titled 'Milton Gendel. Uno scatto lungo un secolo' has been released.
Key facts
- Milton Gendel died in Rome at age 99, one month before his 100th birthday.
- He was born in New York in 1918 and moved to Rome in 1949.
- He served in China during WWII and befriended Robert Motherwell, André Breton, and exiled surrealists.
- He was a correspondent for ArtNews, promoting Italian artists like Alberto Burri and Toti Scialoja.
- He translated Bruno Zevi's 'Saper Leggere L'Architettura'.
- He co-founded the Rome-New York Art Foundation on Tiber Island, supported by Peggy Guggenheim.
- Michelangelo Antonioni used the foundation space and Gendel's apartment for 'L'Avventura'.
- In 1977, he was commissioner for the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and had his first exhibition at Marlborough Gallery.
- His 1962 photos of the Venice Biennale, including one of viewers looking at Alberto Giacometti's works, are iconic.
- The American Academy in Rome organized the exhibition 'A Surreal Life' in 2011 at Museo Carlo Bilotti.
- He donated his photo collection and library to the Fondazione Primoli.
- Barbara Drudi published 'Milton Gendel. Uno scatto lungo un secolo' and curated a 2017 exhibition at the Biblioteca Nazionale.
Entities
Artists
- Milton Gendel
- Robert Motherwell
- André Breton
- Alberto Burri
- Toti Scialoja
- Bruno Zevi
- Adriano Olivetti
- Peggy Guggenheim
- Frances McCann
- Michelangelo Antonioni
- Alberto Giacometti
- Peter Benson Miller
- Barbara Drudi
- Mario Praz
- Alberto Arbasino
- Eugenio Scalfari
- Grisha von Rezzori
- Gaia de Beaumont
- Gabriella Scialoja
Institutions
- ArtNews
- Rome-New York Art Foundation
- Marlborough Gallery
- American Academy in Rome
- Venice Biennale
- Fondazione Passaré
- Quodlibet
- Museo Carlo Bilotti
- Biblioteca Nazionale
- Fondazione Primoli
- Palazzo Primoli
- Artribune
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Rome
- Italy
- China
- Greenwich Village
- Tiber Island
- Venice
- Arles
- Palazzo Primoli