Antonio Possenti was one of the most important Italian painters of the twentieth century, renowned for his fantastical, poetic and surreal style. Born in Lucca in 1933 and passing away in 2016, Possenti forged a personal artistic language rich in dreams, symbols, fantastic creatures and imaginary figures.

After a classical education and a law degree from the University of Pisa, he began teaching law, but his true passion was art. He started out as a satirical cartoonist for the weekly Il Mondo, taking over from the celebrated Mino Maccari. A turning point in his life was his meeting with Marc Chagall in 1957: from that moment he decided to devote himself entirely to painting.

His importance in the art world lies in his ability to keep figurative painting alive in years dominated by abstract and conceptual art. His works depict imaginary worlds full of irony, melancholy and poetry, often inspired by literature, dreams and personal memory. Leading critics and writers such as Dino Buzzati held his work in the highest regard.

Over the course of his career he took part in a great many exhibitions in Italy and abroad. Among the most important were the Rome Quadriennale in 1959 and the International Biennial of Graphic Art at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence in 1972, as well as numerous solo shows in Milan, Bologna, Amsterdam and Paris. He also exhibited at the Uffizi in Florence, Castel dell’Ovo in Naples and the Palazzo Ducale in Lucca and in Massa, and took part in major international fairs such as Arte Fiera Bologna and Art Basel.

Possenti was a member of the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence and of the Accademia Lucchese di Scienze, Lettere e Arti. He is still remembered today as one of the greatest exponents of contemporary Italian fantastical painting.