page_title: Antonio Diego Voci
section_title: Southern Europe and London
hierarchical_section_title: Antonio Diego Voci / 1960–1985 life with Helga Drössler Voci / Southern Europe and London
caption_attribution_description: Painting of “Fisherman”
context_page_description: Antonio Diego Voci was an internationally collected Italian figurative artist with the largest group of owners of his works residing in Switzerland, England, Germany, Italy, Canada and the US; as well as various works scattered the world over. Although constantly drawing or painting from childhood to the day he succumbed to lung cancer, Diego's most productive period was the last quarter century of his life which began when he met Helga Drössler in January 1960 in Paris. A significant turning point in Diego's career, Diego said, "My life took on new meaning. I became more." Helga who became Diego's wife, lover, best friend and confidant, published seven chapters of her life with Diego on Artifact Collectors. Within those 25 abundant years Diego created 4000 oils, mostly on canvas, and many thousands of drawings.
  "Each movement had its great masters, but there are very few who could create art unconfined by a single style like Diego." – Christopher Voci
context_section_description: Summer of 1960 in Paris, Helga fell ill where she was hospitalized for 3 months with Diego at her side, at which time Diego officially registered as a resident of Paris. Diego took Helga to South France to relax in "very good hotels" for recovery until the holiday season. Helga went to Bavaria to be with her family.  Diego went to London to rent a furnished apartment in Soho where Helga joined him in January. Diego painted.
  By fall 1961 Diego wanted to escape London weather.  They spent until January 1962 in a little fishing village in Spain called Almunecar, an artist's colony.  Diego painted, and played cards with fisherman and studied the village people he would portray from memory (example on left). Diego said he never copies.  He creates from his vast library of mental images collected from international travels and mingling with everyday people.
  February 1962, their next stop was Morocco and while there Diego received a commission in Marrakesh at the American Officer's Club.   Diego traveled throughout Morocco while Helga took a job at a travel agency in Lugano, Switzerland.  On the way to meet Helga in Lugano, Diego made arrangements for Globart in Milano to show his paintings.  August 1962, Diego joined Helga in Switzerland renting a boathouse on Lake Constance.
caption: "Fisherman", 1966, 34" x 35 ¾", oil on canvas
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