Armand Luigi Cigarini
(1896-1954), PhotographerArtist associated with 3 portraits
by Armand Luigi Cigarini
bromide print, 1920s
NPG x8038
by Armand Luigi Cigarini, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1920s
NPG Ax160157
by Armand Luigi Cigarini
vintage bromide print, 1920s
NPG x194312
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Maria Cigarini
02 May 2018, 11:04
Armand Luigi Cigarini was my father, he was born in what was French Tunisia of Italian parents who stemmed from Turin and Modena, Italy. His love of photography started at the young age of 17 when he opened a small studio in Tunis. He later moved to Paris where he worked for the famous photographer Marcel. While in Paris he was assigned during WWI as a photo reporter to the Italo/Austrian front line where he took photos of the Retreat of Caporetto. After the war my father left Paris and opened a studio in Brussels and later one in Berlin. He eventually ended up in London where he opened a Studio in South Kensington and very quickly became known and famous among the elite society of the late 20s & 30s London. All the rich and famous of the day would file through his studio, he even took photos of the two York Princesses Elisabeth and Margaret. He was known as a Court Photographer.
I have seen these photos but all were lost during the War under the bombings. His great artistry and skill in the days of black/white photography was the colouring of the portraits which he did by using pastels. He made the faces look so natural and beautiful, most of the portraits would appear on the front pages of the Society Magazines like the Tatler and The Bystander.
I have many of these cuttings which include famous society people of the time including Adele Astaire, sister of Fred on the occasion of her marriage to an English Peer, and actors like Herbert Marshall and many people whose name I am not familiar with as they were before my time.
My father married a beautiful model, Ruby Davies who walked into his studio one day on a modelling assignment and it was love at First Sight for both of them.
My father died in Rome, Italy in 1954, he was only 57 years old. He was a loving, happy kind man, and very handsome !
Catherine Kovesi
31 March 2021, 06:41
My grandfather, Robert North Green-Armytage, was the uncle of Vivenne (later Vivien) Dayrell Browning. Vivienne married the author Graham Greene at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Holly Place, NW3, on 15 October 1927.
My grandfather kept a little photo album of the wedding. The album has on its back cover: 'Cigarini Photographers. Studio at 34 Harrington Rd, South Kensington. Phone Kensington 0491'.
The photos include the bride and groom, the bride's mother, and also John O'Connot, K.C., M.P.