There were times when Van Gogh and Monet would have been without canvas and paints had it not been for the generosity of Julien 'Pere' Tanguy, the Montmarte art store proprietor turned benefactor, who often accepted their paintings in exchange for supplies. Much to the dismay of Madame Tanguy, this fatherly man was also known to advance supplies to young artists who had no means of repayment. With so many of his customers paying in art, he became known as an eccentric collector and art dealer, displaying paintings in his shop windows. Artists began meeting at the shop, exchanging ideas and eventually creating new styles and the Impressionist techniques that enrich society today.
The modern day equivalent of Tanguy's art shop for the Italian art scene is Zecchi Colori Art Supply store, located in the center of Florence, the birthplace of the15th century Italian Renaissance. Sitting across the cobblestone street with a front-door view of the Duomo, Zecchi's supplies artists world wide with hard to find paints and traditional materials. With an ancient fresco built into its fasade, the shop also serves as an iconic leader in restoration techniques. Dedicated to the application techniques derived from masters who used the materials centuries ago, Zecchi's fine materials bring life to restoration efforts all over Florence. And similar to the generous traditions of Montmarte's Tanguy, Zecchi's occasionally becomes patron subsidizer, helping to create opportunities for new businesses and spread knowledge of old techniques far outside of mother Italy.
Believing that the resurrection and proliferation of fresco art to be his true mission in life, iLia Anossov established The Fresco School in 1997. He says, 'the complex information bank and technological achievements of our age tempt and often force us to take a 'short cut' in visual arts education.' Consequently, although fresco is the most widely practiced art technique of all the ages since the beginning of human history, this endangered art form is not generally taught in mainstream universities or art schools and is often referred to as a lost or dying art.
