Born in Naples, he spent his young years in Akron. An artist from boyhood, his talent was discovered at an early age by a public school teacher and brought to the attention of a nun, who was instrumental in his obtaining a scholarship to the Cleveland School of Art. A complex man, temperamental, moody, yet outgoing and fun-loving, his personality is reflected in pen and ink sketches, watercolors, pastels and charcoals. Later in life, he made Chicago his home base, traveling annually to his beloved Italy as well as Arizona, Jamaica, Mexico and other art-inspiring places. When his eyes failed, he spent his last two years in Akron. Beneduce died in 1975 at the age of 75. Beneduce's work is best described in his own words: "I paint what I see. I try to convey life with all its glory of light and shadow through the emotional experience it presents to me. I work directly from nature and fine working that way brings a closeness to my subject that I never find working indoors in my studio."
|