Alfredo De Simone
Alfredo De Simone was an Italian-born Uruguayan painter known for his expressive depictions of urban landscapes and interiors, particularly scenes from Montevideo's working-class neighborhoods. He was noted for his heavily textured painting technique and contribution to modern Uruguayan art.
Early life and education
Alfredo De Simone was born in Lattarico, Cosenza, Italy, in either 1892 or 1898. He emigrated with his family to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1901. At a young age, De Simone suffered an accident that left him semi-paralyzed on his left side, a condition that affected his mobility and contributed to the introspective nature of his work.In 1916, he received a scholarship to study at the Círculo de Bellas Artes under Guillermo Laborde. He also studied with Pedro Blanes Viale, Carmelo de Arzadun, and Vicente Puig.
Career
De Simone began painting in the early 1920s, participating in group exhibitions in Montevideo and Buenos Aires. In 1927, he was hired as a technical assistant at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, becoming a full staff member in 1933. He also worked as a set designer and collaborated with theater companies in Montevideo. In 1935, he co-founded the Unión de Artistas Plásticos del Uruguay.His work was included in the Exposición Iberoamericana de Sevilla in 1930, where he received a silver medal. He held multiple solo exhibitions, including an important retrospective at the Subte Municipal de Montevideo in 1943.