A Life in Color and Design
Raúl Soldi was an Argentine painter and production designer whose creative vision spanned landscapes, portraits, nature, and the vibrant worlds of the theater and the circus. Born into an artistic family in Buenos Aires, his early life was steeped in music, with a father who was a cellist and a sister trained in piano and singing. His formal training began at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, but his journey soon took him to Europe. After staying in Germany, he moved to Italy, where he enrolled in the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan. During his time in Italy, he became involved with various vanguard artist groups.
His diverse technical repertoire included oils, watercolors, inks, drawings, lithographs, and monocopies. Beyond the canvas, Soldi made a significant impact in cinema, working as a cinematographic theatrical designer for national films for fifteen years. His talent eventually led him to Hollywood, United States, where he served as a production designer and scenic designer.
Sacred Murals and Artistic Legacy
Soldi’s mastery extended into large-scale architectural works, including frescoes and mosaics. One of his most enduring projects was the murals of the Church of Santa Ana in Glew, Province of Buenos Aires, a task that spanned twenty-three summers. His work also graced the Cupola of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, where he redecorated the space with figures of dancers and musicians from old times. His religious art reached international heights, including a fresco in the Basilica of the Anuncición in Nazareth and a mosaic for the Museum of the Park of Portofino, Italy.
His paintings capture a range of evocative subjects, such as:
