Background
Enrico Donati was born on February 19, 1909 in Milan, Italy. He was a son of Federico Donati and Marianna (Vita) Donati. In 1934, Enrico came to the United States, and some time later, in 1945, he became a United States citizen.
Corso Str. Nuova, 65, 27100 Pavia PV, Italy
University of Pavia, Italy
2 5th Ave, New York, NY 10011, United States
New School for Social Research
215 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Art Students League of New York
New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
Yale University
Enrico Donati was born on February 19, 1909 in Milan, Italy. He was a son of Federico Donati and Marianna (Vita) Donati. In 1934, Enrico came to the United States, and some time later, in 1945, he became a United States citizen.
Enrico studied at the University of Pavia in Italy, graduating with Doctor of Economics and Social Sciences degree in 1929. Some time later, he moved to the United States, where he enrolled at the New School for Social Research. Donati also attended Art Students League of New York.
In 1942, Enrico held his first solo exhibitions at New School for Social Research and the Passedoit Gallery in New York. By that time, he had already been influenced by André Breton, Marcel Duchamp and other Surrealists of that time. A vivid example of that period is his work "St. Elmo’s Fire".
In 1947, Enrico co-organized the Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme, which took place in Paris. Following the decline of Surrealism in the late 1940's, Donati stayed current and adapted to changing trends by using new materials and textures in his work. In the late 1950's, he became interested in Abstract Expressionism, which involved painting in a manner, that appeared random and accidental, while, in reality, was thoroughly planned.
Between 1954-1956 and 1961-1964, Donati served as a member of jury of Fulbright Scholarship Program. In 1961, a major retrospective of Donati's works took place at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. Since 1962 till 1972, Enrico worked as a visiting lecturer at Yale University. Also, in 1970 and 1972, he held the post of a Chairman of the National Committee at the University Art Museum of California in Berkeley.
In 1965, in addition to his art, Donati became the owner of the French perfume company Houbigant Inc. In 1978, the concern was valued at $50 million.
Decalcomania
Roi d'eclair
Untitled
Chantecler
L'enigme vent
Time Exposure
Archimboldo
The Study of Dynamisme et Cinetisme
L'oeil de nuit
Decalcomania
Decalcomania
Decalcomania
St. Elmo's Fire
L'oeil
Le chateau pluie
Gudea Priest of Akkad
Electric Eye
Multiplication par Kariokynese
Corte d'Appello
Conception de Venus
Le philtre II
Enrico was a member of Country Club of New Canaan (Connecticut) and Bohemian Club (San Francisco).
Quotes from others about the person
"I love the paintings of Enrico Donati as I love a night in May." — André Breton, a writer
Enrico married Claire Javal in 1934. Their marriage produced two children — Marina and Sylviane (Mistress Claude Mahias). In 1965, the couple divorced and the same year, Donati married Adele Schmidt. They gave birth to one daughter — Alexandra.