Born 1907 in Verona, died 1959 in Milan. Birolli first studied painting at the “G. B. Cignaroli” Academy in Verona, from which he was expelled for “lack of discipline”, and moved to Milan in 1927. In Milan and Pavia he tried various things, he also painted decorations in fresco and scratchwork techniques. In 1929 he became proof-reader at “L’Ambrosiano”. He first went to Paris in 1936, where he was impressed by the works of van Gogh and Cézanne. In 1938 he initiated the “Corrente” art movement in Milan, in 1946 he signed the Manifesto della Nuova Secessione artistica. Birolli was influenced by van Gogh as a response to the classicist orientation of the Novecento group and Metaphysical Painting. His expressionism later changed under the influence of Oskar Kokoschka, James Ensor and the Roman painter Gino Bonichi, called Scipione. Birolli, who also wrote about art, was an active member of the resistance movement against the Nazis.
Lit.: Renato Birolli, Editor Pia Vivarelli, Milano 1989 [ex. cat.]; Novecento/1, Vol. I-II, 1992 (biogr. Laura Lorenzoni); Novecento/2, Vol. I-II, 1993 (biogr. Laura Lorenzoni); Disegno italiano del Novecento, Milano 1993.