Julio de Diego was a Spanish-born American visual artist.
Background
Julio De Diego was born in Madrid, Spain in 1900, at the age of 15 he left home after his domineering father destroyed "every drawing in the house." Shortly thereafter, his art was exhibited for the first time in a show at a casino, where he sold his first painting.
Career
1920s – 1930s
During this period, Diego also worked in a Madrid studio that produced scenery for opera productions. He also had the fortunate experience of appearing as an extra in the production by Diaghilev"s Ballets Russes of Stravinsky"s Petrushka, starring Vaslav Nijinsky. He also served as art director for Spain"s first four-reel film, in which he also played the villain of the piece.
While still in his teens, Diego enlisted in the Spanish Cavalry.
He served with the Spanish forces for two years, including a six-month stint in the Rif War (otherwise known as the Second Moroccan War). Diego reported that he was wounded by an enemy saber during the Riff campaign.
After the war, Diego cut off contact with his family and traveled to Paris, where he was exposed to the latest in cubism, abstraction and surrealism. In 1924 Diego emigrated to the United States.
In 1926, Diego started to focus more on painting, and began to garner awards.
lieutenant was also in 1926 that Diego moved to Chicago. In Chicago, he designed magazine covers, did fashion illustrations, got a commission to decorate two chapels in Saint Gregory"s Church. also designed a laundry bag for the Hotel Sherman that led to a 33% increase in outgoing washington Diego first exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1929.
In this same year he started to participate at the various Annual American Exhibitions, Chicago Artists Exhibitions, and International Water Color Exhibitions.
In the summer of 1935 Diego had a solo exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. He moved, this time to Mexico, where he collected native artifacts and getting inspiration from a muralist name Carlos Mérida.
Besides collecting he also did some sceneries for ballets and designed a few costumes. During World World War II he was in support of American Artists" Congress which was fighting censorship in Germany and Italy and before it was in opposition against Francisco Franco.
Later on he settled at the Sarasota, Florida where he died on August 22, 1979.