Ernesto de Fiori (1884 - 1945)

Ernesto de Fiori

Ernesto de Fiori was a German artist of the first half of the twentieth century of Italian-Austrian origin. He is known as a sculptor, draughtsman, and secular portraitist and is considered one of the leading artists of the Weimar Republic.

Ernesto de Fiori made a name for himself as a sculptural portraitist in Berlin during the so-called "Golden Twenties". He portrayed such celebrities as movie actresses Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich, boxer Jack Dempsey, Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. In 1936, the artist emigrated to Brazil and took up journalism. In 1937, the Nazi campaign to expose "degenerate art" led to the removal of his sculptures and graphics from German museums.