Antonio Manganaro

Antonio Manganaro (Manfredonia, 1842 - Naples, 1920) was a painter, caricaturist, and drawing professor. Early designer, at the age of 14, he was sent to Naples at the Royal Institute of Art. The expenses were borne by two local patrons, Baron Cessa and Diego Badarò, who awarded him six ducats a month. He soon passed to painting classes, winning prizes and receiving the praises of his masters, including Maldarelli and Postiglione. Arrested for political conspiracy (his family belonged to the Young Italy), he was ordered to leave Naples. In 1859, he was part of the secret or action committee and, in 1860, he participated in the revolutionary movements that favored the entry of Garibaldi into Naples. Following the General, he participated in numerous feats of arms and was also wounded, obtaining a medal. Taking leave of the Mobile National Guards, he directed a newspaper, The Last Judgment. He was considered one of the leading caricaturists of his era, together with Errico Colonna and Melchiorre Delfico. In 1885, he obtained the chair of design at the Technical School Giambattista Della Porta in Naples. He left many original caricature albums, among which I Cinquecento the Italian Parliament, Eighty Municipal Councilors of the Palazzo San Giacomo, Provincial Councilors of Naples, Contemporanei, etc.