A giant of the Florentine mosaic art world is gone.
We just learned that Bruno Lastrucci, master mosaicist and former director of Richard Blow’s Montici workshop, died in Florence, Italy. on Dec. 22, 2021.
The humble but enormously talented artisan was the last major living link to the history of Richard Blow’s celebrated, post-World War II resurrection of the noble, 16th-century Medici-era, mosaic art of pietra dura.
Richard and Bruno were more than work colleagues, more than merely friends; they were bound together by an uncommon level of mutual respect, trust and affection.
Richard created those iconoclastic images, but it was Bruno Lastrucci who turned them into art.
Bruno’s deep knowledge of stone, patient skill in cutting, and unflagging friendship anchored the American Richard in this ancient Italian art, supporting Richard’s artistic explorations and experiments for three decades. Bruno was still in grade school when he began his Montici studio apprenticeship. Over the years he rose to become a maestro of the craft, master of the atelier, and -- upon Richard’s death – default historian of the whole amazing adventure.
Richard returned the affection. He painted portraits of Bruno’s father and grandfather; brought Bruno’s family into the Villa Piazza Calda to live with him; asked his advice on stones and frames used in his mosaics; encouraged and supported Bruno when he launched his own business after Richard began winding down Montici; and when the ailing Richard finally closed his workshop in 1973, he willed the villa farmhouse to Bruno and his family.
For almost 40 years, they shared the same artistic passion, together creating unique works of art appreciated around the globe today.
Please join me, my sister Rosemary, and brother John, in extending to Bruno’s son Iacopo and his family our sincere condolences on his father’s passing.
He made the world a more beautiful place.
Michael Schmicker