Description

Extended Data

DAAO URL

https://www.daao.org.au/bio/francesco-vanzetti-1

Birth Place

Padua, Italy

Biography

Artist, designer, metal smith, architect, farmer, research officer, lecturer in Italian and art critic. Francesco Cesare Luigi Stephano Vanzetti was born on April 29, 1878 in Padua, Italy to Domenico and Malvina, n_e Ricci, an old Verona family. He was orphaned at seventeen before he completed his architecture and drawing studies at the Academia di Belle Arti (School of Fine Arts) in Florence. Vanzetti arrived in Western Australia on the Ormuz on January 3, 1896 with his uncle Eugenio Vanzetti, a mining entrepreneur. The following year his younger brothers Carlo and Antonio joined them. About 1898, the West Australian Society of Arts was formed and Vanzetti became an active force in the artistic life of the community. He was described as “the live wire” of the society reputedly sleeping on the premises at times and using the studio as a fencing venue. He was the honorary secretary from 1901, treasurer 1903-6, and took art classes for the society. His bookplate design was selected for use by the society and his designs also featured on the covers of the 1901, 1904 and 1911 catalogues. In a professional capacity he designed buildings, fountains, catalogues, furnishings, furniture, embroidery worked by his sisters, silver, jewellery and trophies. He designed the “Certificate of Award” for the Coolgardie exhibition of 1899. He designed a leadlight panel for HMS Commonwealth, a battleship launched in Glasgow in May 1903. Various jewels were designed c1909 for Lady James and other Perth ladies. He taught technical drawing and blackboard drawing from 1898 at Fremantle Technical School. In 1900 he became engaged to singer Gertrude Dawson. When she left to pursue her singing career overseas he married her niece Evelyn Baxter. Two years later his sisters, seventeen year old Lisetta and fifteen year old Mathilde joined their brothers in Perth. Francesco purchased land in South Perth, near Society of Arts member and Perth Technical School art teacher J. W. R. Linton, and built his first cottage using it as an example of his interior design skills. His house was described in the FZ Review: “His own cottage at South Perth is a revelation of the high order of his capabilities: its charm being continually added to by some little gem in repouss_, beaten copper work, enamelling, or wood-carving. The scheme of wall decorations and draperies, the fingerplates, door handles and panels of quaint design make it one of the most interesting houses I have been in.” When his brother Carlo married Evelyn’s sister Florence Francesco built a new home “Albaredo” next door. Carlo purchased the older house. Francesco Vanzetti and Linton were rivals in expressing their aesthetic sensibility. Both had trained in art and architecture. They vied to produce door fittings and other accoutrements for the dwellings, which they built in the same street. In reviewing one exhibition, 'Pique’, writing for The Morning Herald, credits Vanzetti and Linton with improving the applied art section of the society, saying “the highest compliments must be bestowed on Mr Vanzetti”. Vanzetti also won the repouss_ prize over Linton in the 1906 Society of Arts’ exhibition. Vanzetti and Linton won a national competition in February 1909 to design and make the “Empire Rifle Match Shield”. The design was apparently by Vanzetti. They did not work together very well as both were of mercurial temperament and both wanted to be the major designer. They had a falling out c1910-11. In 1912, Vanzetti forsook city life to be a farmer. He made a complete break, and to fund the venture sold everything including all his art works and his wife’s jewellery. His farming efforts near Moora were dogged by poor seasons with drought, floods in 1914 and, in 1915, wheat rust. Bankrupted by these misfortunes, they were in danger of losing the farm when his wife borrowed the money to purchase the farm in her own right. She made this viable while he worked for the Department of Agriculture from 1919 and wrote weekly articles for the Western Mail until 1924 and until 1930 for the West Australian. About 1928 Vanzetti gave a lecture on Florentine art and met Walter Murdoch, Professor of English at the University of Western Australia. Murdoch established an Italian course and invited him to become the part-time lecturer. He also joined the University Art Club, exhibited his designs for jewellery and became an art critic for the West Australian. In 1952 Evelyn Vanzetti retired to Perth. At this time Francesco was President of the Dante Alighieri Society that in 1956 awarded him a Diploma and the Gold Medal of the society. Evelyn died in 1960. In 1962 the University of Western Australia bestowed an Honorary Master of Arts on Vanzetti who retired the following year. He died September 10, 1967. The Italian Department of the University of Western Australia honoured his memory by commencing the annual Vanzetti Memorial Lecture in 1987. Writers: Dr Dorothy Erickson Date written: 2010 Last updated: 2011

Born

b. 29 April 1878

Summary

Artist, designer, metalsmith, architect, farmer, research officer and lecturer. He designed the "Certificate of Award" for the Coolgardie exhibition of 1899. Vanzetti also designed a leadlight panel for HMS Commonwealth (a battleship launched in Glasgow in May 1903).

Gender

Male

Died

1967

Age at death

89