Philippe Daverio has died, he was councilor of Milano

"Your brother wrote to me this morning to tell me that Philippe passed away last night." This is the message with which Andree Ruth Shammah, director of the Franco Parenti theater of Milano, communicated to ANSA the death of Philippe Daverio, a great art historian and former councilor for Milanese culture. Daverio was 70 years old (he would have turned 71 on October 17) and had been seriously ill for some time. Great condolences from the world of culture and television, given that Daverio was also the kind face of art on the small screen for years.

Born on 17 October 1949 in Mulhouse, Alsace, Philippe Daverio began his career as an art dealer and as such opened important galleries around the world. From 1993 to 1997 he was Councilor for Culture of the Municipality of Milano during the Formentini government, where he was mainly involved in the restoration and relaunch of the Royal Palace and the reconstruction of the Contemporary Art Pavilion destroyed following the bomb explosion in 1993. Opinionist for «Panorama», «Liberal», «Vogue », «Gente», consultant for the Skira publishing house and director of ArtDossier since 2008, Daverio has always defined himself as an art historian. In 1999 he arrived on television, Rai Tre, where he became the special art correspondent. The following year he hosts «Art.tù», then he is the author and host of «Passepartout», an art and culture program which has had great success and notable recognition from critics and the public. He was also in charge of an art history course at Iulm Milano and taught history of design courses at the Polytechnic of MilanoSince 2006 he has been full professor of sociology of artistic processes at the Faculty of Architecture (Design department) of the University of Palermo. In 2010 he was also the author and host of «Emporio Daverio» on Rai5, an invitation to travel among the beauties of Italy. Among his books I finally understood Italy. Small treatise for the use of foreigners (and Italians), Grand Tour of Italy in small steps. Over 80 places and itineraries to discover, My Europe in small steps, all for Rizzoli. Don't forget the most loved works The broken century of the avant-garde. The imagined museum, The design born in Milano. Story of boys from good families, The art of looking at art. Daverio was politically "adopted" by the League, as he himself said. However, lately he had become close to Emma Bonino's movement and was fighting for Venice as the third European capital. The Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini wrote: “An intellectual of extraordinary humanity, a capable disseminator of culture, a sensitive and refined art historian. With sagacity and passion, he accompanied Italian men and women in the fascinating discovery of architecture, landscapes, creative expression, artists and the sources of our cultural heritage. All of this was Philippe Daverio, a man whose great intelligence and critical spirit I have always appreciated and which we all already miss."  On the profile of the Teatro La Fenice in Venice appears: “It is not easy to start the day with a smile after learning of the passing of Master Daverio, elegantae arbiter, apostle of common sense, knight of Beauty who knew how to share with us and with all of you... we don't feel like adding anything else". The Mayor of Milano, Beppe Sala writes: "With Philippe Daverio one of the great protagonists of the cultural life of Milano of the last decades. Daverio was a lover of Milano to which he has always given the strength of his originality and his competence, from the Municipality to the Scala to the Cathedral Museum and Brera. I have seen him at work in many situations, I have not always shared his positions, but I have always been struck by his freedom of thought. Above all Milano and Italy owe their fight in defense of the beauty and art of our country of which he was a tireless and brilliant popularizer to Philippe's international spirit and communicative ability. Thank you, Philippe, and “save Italy”! ” And Roberto Calderoli also intervenes via Facebook, writing: “The sudden passing of Professor Philippe Daverio leaves a huge void. A man of culture has passed away who spoke about our art, history, our tradition and did so with simple words accessible to everyone. I respected and appreciated him as a man and as an intellectual and teacher. A great loss for our culture."