Painting from life - Antonio Carluccio

Oil sketch from life at Mall Galleries live art event

Remembering an Italian Master.

In 2009 I met the great chef Antonio Carluccio at the Mall Galleries in London, he was posing as a model for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Live Portrait evening. This involved painting from live models while visitors and members walked around the gallery watching the painters at work. I couldn't believe my luck when I saw he was the model and I was lucky enough to win 1st prize for my painting. Antonio happily signed one of his books for my wife. As a fan of Italian food in general, it was a real privilege to paint Antonio Carluccio in his regular blue shirt. I recall he appeared to be very relaxed for the two hour session, he even dozed off for a short while. I later produced a larger more considered oil portrait (shown above), which I donated to his office for one of his charities. Sadly his passing seemed to happen quite suddenly in November. Thanks for the memory Antonio.

November 2017