Encounter the famous painter Paolino Rangoni

Between the umbrellas and the sunbeds at one of Lerici s many sandy beaches, there was one man that caught my attention.

Paolino Rangoni ( Born 20/07/1930) is his name, and right here in the Gulf of Poets, a source of inspiration to many great talents including Lord Byron among others, I cant help but wonder what talented Rangoni has been painting this morning. He is sitting under the sun with his painting board out, and painting with his painting brushes in all directions.

So I discreetly go up to him and greet him, and ask if I can have a look at his artwork. Rangoni is very polite and flattered by the attention and proudly shows me his current work, which is a colored painting of Lerici, still to be finished. He puts his brushes and pencils away and explains to me that as well as painting the beautiful landscape we have in front of us, he also adds his personal touch to each painting. That is what makes his paintings unique he says.

Are you from Lerici?

No, I was born in Genova but I live in Sarzana, where I have my studio. To be more specific, my studio is located in Via Nicolo Mascardi 24. I spend most of my time in Sarzana and Lerici, though I grew up in Napoli.

Are you a painter full time, for a living?

Yes, in 2012 I had 15 stations of precious work displayed in a dedicated exhibition in the Diocesan Museum of Vicenza. One of my many exhibitions. You can find more information about my work on my dedicated homepage.

A quick search online for Rangonis art work and I am left speechless. Beautiful colored paintings of landscapes of places La Spezia, including Lerici and Sarzana, The Gulf, boats. There is also a huge collection of precious drawings Via Crucis and much more.

It all goes to show his big talent and a long carrier with a lot of artwork put down on paintings. And right now he is painting, Lerici right in front of me. It's a great honor.

Have you meet my grandchildren? He asks me, and I am greeted by a polite teenage boy and a young girl. And here is my wife, Giovanna. She greets me warmly. Ragoni puts his painting aside, and his granddaughter hugs him tightly around his neck, and the caring grandfather and artist gives her a warm smile.

I figure my time here is up. I thank him for his time, and hopefully another place another time we will catch up, and I can see the finished painting of today.

If you want to learn more about Paolino Ragoni you can visit his website https://paolinorangoni.wordpress.com/

04/09/2024