SERGIO PAOLO DIODATO

BIOGRAPHY

  • 2024 From the renowned authors Gianluca Busi and Giovanni Raffa, accept the commission for the printing of the volume entitled: The Gilding of Icons and Wooden Surfaces. History, Meaning, Techniques, and Practice; ISBN 978-88-946047-5-7, for which they oversee the overall organization, the preface, the editorial work, the photographic contribution, and the notes. This volume, published in July, is the third in the Fac sic editorial series on Ancient Painting Techniques by the publishing house Diodato Editore.
  • 2023 From November 1st he is officially retired, having reached the age limit.
  • 2022 In September he publishes in e-book format, on the website www.diodatoeditore.it, the second edition of Encaustic Wall Painting, How to Execute an Encaustic Painting on a Terracotta Support Following Recipes in Classical Sources, and the first edition of Encaustic Wood Painting . How to make an Encaustic Wood Painting based on Clues gathered from Classical Sources: Proposals for the Philological Reconstruction of the Ancient Technique.
  • 2022 On 22 June, the official presentation of the second edition of the volume: Encaustic on the wall was held at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN). How to practically create an encaustic painting on brick following the recipes of classical sources
  • 2022 On 10 June at the XXVII International Exhibition for the Restoration of Cultural and Environmental Heritage in Ferrara, he holds a conference entitled: Ancient encaustic, the true technique finally revealed. Clarifications and new discoveries from the XFR analysis of the originals from the Egyptian Museums of Turin and Florence. The theory and reconstructive practice of the true ancient pictorial technique, translated from classical sources, explained and practically demonstrated.
  • 2021 On 29 July, he holds an online lesson on Painting Techniques regarding: The materials of the ancient European artistic tradition; Classification of ancient binders, pigments and dyes; Ancient painting techniques, to the students of the Huaytong Institut in Beijing.
  • 2021 In March, he publishes the reprint of the volume: Encausto sul muro. Come realizzare praticamente un dipinto ad encausto su laterizio seguendo le ricette delle fonti classiche: ISBN 978-88-94647-0-2, Diodato Editore, S. Giovanni Teatino (CH).
  • 2021 In February, he published: Encausto sul legno. Come realizzare un dipinto ad encausto sul legno seguendo gli indizi delle fonti classiche: proposte per la ricostruzione filologica della tecnica antica. ISBN 978-88-94647-1-9, Diodato Editore, S. Giovanni Teatino (CH).
  • 2021 In January, he closes the VAT number registered in the name of Sergio Paolo Diodato – editore, entrusting this demanding and started activity to a person in his family, who wanted to keep the brand and the name: Diodato Editore.
  • 2020 In the spring, during the closure of schools of all levels caused by the pandemic, he was invited by the Istituto Veneto per I Beni Culturali (IVCB) in Venice to participate and hold on digital platform, as an external teacher, the second annual meeting of the seminar on: I buoni colori di una volta. Theme of the second meeting: La fabbricazione dei leganti, degli ispessenti, delle vernici e dei principali sottofondi utilizzati tradizionalmente in Arte.
  • 2019 He held, during the second semester, the first part (Pictorial Techniques from its Origins to 1460) of the Techniques and Technologies for Painting course for the graduate degree program of the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence.
  • 2019 (April 3-5) He was invited by the Istituto Veneto per i Beni Culturali (IVCB) of Venice to participate, as visiting professor, to the first annual reunion of the seminar on: I buoni colori di una volta.
  • 2018 (December) Publishing of the registration of his own name in the National Album of Qualified Italian Restorers, within the Ministry of Artistic Cultural Heritage ex art. 182 and ex art. 29 of the legislative decree 22 gennaio 2004 n. 42 (Codice dei Beni Culturali e del Paesaggio).
  • 2018 (June 16 and 17) He was invited by the People’s Republic of China, to the Hubey region, by the University of Tecnology of Wuhan, to hold a conference titled: Oil Painting in Italy During the Middle Ages and The Renaissance.
  • 2018 (May) He was in charge of, as instructor of the Academy, the course titled: Introduction to The Restoration of Paintings, held specifically for the students of the Tongji University in Florence.
  • 2018 (January) The third printing was published, of the revised edition, of his bestseller:  I buoni colori di una volta. Ricettario fotografico per conoscere e fabbricare pigmenti, leganti, vernici e materiali artistici antichi, direttamente dai trattati medievali, ISBN 979-12-200-2729-8, Diodato editore, S. Giovanni Teatino (CH), presented by, among others, Prof. Elisabetta Zendri, of the “Ca’ Foscari” University, at the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice on March 12.
  • 2018 With the permission of the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence’s director, at 62 years of age and not being able to retire due to the Fornero Law, he opened the VAT number, Diodato Sergio Paolo – Editor.
  • 2017 He participated, as an exponent, with a video:  A Brief Self Introduction, in mp4 lasting 11 minutes, at the exhibition: De Academia, curated by Pier Luigi Tazzi, coordinated by Angela Nocentini, for the collection and public exhibition of the most representative works of the professors of the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence. Here, he publicly showed some paintings, sculptures, etchings, compositions, and inventions done over the years.
  • 2017 For the same purpose of “il ciclo Parole ad Arte”, on May 9 he held a conference open to the public, titled: The Unkown Punic Wax. Clarification of the terms Encaustic-Encausticature and the Practice of the Ancient Roman Wall Painting Techniques, According to Recent Scientific Analyses.
  • 2017 He was made charge of, by the director, searching for the antique frescoes in the walls of the cloister of the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence, and their subsequent restoration for the hands-on teaching purposes of the second year Painting Restoration course. These frescoes, according to historical accounts, portray the abbots of the XIV century Convent of St. Matthew, where the Academy is now located.
  • 2015 After having passed the competition ad hoc, he was in charge of teaching History and Methodology of Painting Techniques (classe ministeriale ABAV 06) at the TFA : Tirocinio Formativo Attivo, created for the newly graduated and held at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence under the MIUR.
  • 2014 His third book came out, titled: Encausto sul muro. Come realizzare praticamente un dipinto ad encausto su laterizio seguendo le ricette delle fonti classiche, Nardini editore Firenze, ISBN 978884040308-3, presented by Nardini Box Corner at the XXXIII Restoration Fair of Ferrara. Translated in English by Julia A. Mee, and sold on the website of Nardini Editore as an e-book titled: Encaustic Wall Painting. How to execute an Encaustic Painting on a Terracotta Support Following Recipes in Classical Sources. ISBN 9788840403113
  • 2012 The first reprinting of: I buoni colori di una volta. Ricettario ecc. nella Nuova edizione ampliata. ISBN 978-8895535210, presented by, among others, Prof. Maria Grazia Del Fuoco, head of the Medieval History course at the “G. D’Annunzio” University, held at Academy of Fine Arts of l’Aquila.
  • 2011 (January 28) Presentation of the book: I buoni colori di una volta, held at the Cultural Heritage Bookshop – Nardini Book Shop in Via delle Vecchie Carceri in Florence.
  • 2011 He was invited to Switzerland by the SUSPI University of Lugano to give a seminar on I buoni colori di una volta and, in particular, on Roman mural encaustic.
  • 2011 (May 18) Presentation of the book: I buoni colori di una volta held at the Academy of Fine Arts of Rome, with, among others, Prof. Maurizio De Luca, a restorer and head of the Restoration Laboratories of the Vatican Museums.
  • 2011 He collaborated as visiting professor with the Department of Restoration at the State Academy of Fine Arts of Milan-Brera, where in the Villa Borromeo Borromeo in the Arcore campus, he gave a series of classes on the Technological History of Pictorial Pigments and Antique Artistic Materials.
  • 2010 The publication of is second book, I buoni colori di una volta. Ricettario fotografico per conoscere e fabbricare pigmenti, leganti, vernici e materiali artistici antichi, direttamente dai trattati medievali, ISBN 978-8895535197 edizioni Menabò di Ortona, wich was presented by, among others, Prof. Dora Liscia Bemporad, of the Department of Medieval History of the University of Florence at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence.
  • 2009 He was part of the filming of Gli Elgin Marbles e l’Accademia di Firenze. Cronaca di un restauro, directed by Massimo Becattini, in collaboration with Mediateca Regionale Toscana, in which he is the protagonist and oversees the restoration of the antique plaster casts of Canova that are permanently exhibited in the cloister of the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence.
  • 2008 He participated in the organization, as well as supervision, of the convention: The Anatomical Head in Colored Wax of the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence, in which the restoration of this antique, anatomical head was presented, being the subject of Federica Dal Forno’s thesis (a student under his guidance), that was immediately published by Nardini, as an e-book, in Florence.
  • 2007 He was supervisor at the The Academy Beyond The Academy, Formation, Conservation and Communication of Art, directed by Gianni Pozzi and Gaia Bindi, held at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence from March 14th to 16th with a lesson titled: Restorer Artist or Artist Restorer? Considerations for the Preparation of the Collaborating Restorer of Cultural Heritage, at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence.
  • 2007 He was named commissioner for the Updating of the Institute’s Internal Rankings for the Restoration class (G130) at the State Academy of Fine Arts of Sassari.
  • 2006 He was elected president of the Plaster Cast, Environment and Artistic Heritage of The Academy of Fine Arts of Florence, during period in which Prof. Giuseppe Andreani was director.
  • 2004 He participated as a supervisor at the Il Partenone a Firenze convention, during the Studies Day, on June 1st.
  • 2002-2003 He created and established, at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence, the first course for the preparation and training of the the new professional occupation, the Collaborating Restorer; a three-year degree that will last until 2009.
  • 2001 He was named commissioner for the Updating of the Institute’s Internal Rankings for the Restoration class (G130) at the Academy of Fine Arts, counting as “Cignaroli” of Verona.
  • 2001 After having brilliantly passed (with 80 out of 80 points in the oral exam) the Reserved Competition instituted by the Ministry, he was hired, under permanent contract, as the head of the Restoration Department (ABPR24) at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence.
  • 1998 He publishes his first book: L’ancona dei Cappuccini di Guardiagrele e il suo restauro, raccolta di notizie storiche, tecniche e metodologiche, Carsa edizioni Pescara, ISBN 88-85854-55-9.
  • 1997 He became the visiting professor of the post-diploma course for Expert in Conservation and Restoration Techinques of Archival Materials in History of Scriptorial and Binding Subjects at the “G. Palizzi” National Institute of Art of Lanciano (CH).
  • 1995 He published his first printed article titled, Da Guardiagrele a Firenze, in the D’Abruzzo magazine, year XVIII n. 32, on the life and works (in particular a depiction of a Madonna and Child exhibited at the Uffizi Gallery of Florence) by Nicola da Guardiagrele, a famous, XIV century artist from his hometown.
  • 1991 He is registered in the IIC: International Institure for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works of London.
  • 1987 First year of teaching subjects regarding restoration and conservation of artworks in vocational training institutions sponsored by the Abruzzo Region and financed by social, European funds.
  • 1986 Opening and registration of the Diodato Sergio Paolo Company, at the VAT Office at the Chieti Chamber of Commerce, specialized in the restoration and production of art – particularly Sacred Art.
  • 1983 He obtains a degree in Restoration (Diploma di Restauratore di Beni Culturali) with a specialization in Restoration of Wooden Polychrome and Gilt Sculpture and Paintings on Wood and Canvas, at the Regional Center of Cataloguing and Restoration of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region.
  • 1979 He graduates from the School of Painting at the Fine Arts Academy of Florence (a four-year course, under the old school system (which was later accredited by law as a university degree), receiving a total grade of 120 out of 120 (with an Italian lode, or outstanding recognition, in Painting).
  • 1979 During the summer, he was hired, under a brief contract, at the construction company of Maestro Melchiorre Giuseppe of San Giovanni Teatino where, among other things, he learned how to prepare plaster to perfection – an experience that will later prove to be extremely useful to be able to properly paint in both the ancient fresco and mural encaustic techniques.
  • 1977 During the summer, he was hired as a worker at the Fonderie Di Nicola Gennaro e Figli in San Giovanni Teatino, where he learned how to cast in bronze.
  • 1975 After graduating from the Public, Scientific High School of Guardiagrele (Liceo Scientifico Statale), he applied to the Fine Arts Academy of Florence (Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze), specifically the School of Painting held there under the direction of Professor Fernando Farulli, brother of the famous violist of the Quartetto Italiano, and managed to have his students appreciate Classical Music.