David Beghè was born on May 3rd, 1854 in Calice al Cornoviglio (La Spezia).
After finishing his schooling there, he attended regular classes at the Fine Arts Academy in Carrara and obtained his diploma in 1870.
He then left Carrara to settle in Milano where he lived with an uncle who was a priest.
In Milano he registered for courses in architecture at the Polytechnic, but his over-riding passion for painting pushed him to further his studies at the famous Brera Fine Arts School.
Here he completed the whole courses under the guidance of the two most illustrious artists of the time, Francesco Hayez and Giuseppe Bertini. Later Giovanni Valtorta taught him the art of fresco-painting. In 1875 he abtained his History of Art diploma.
While remaining faithful to the romantico-figurative school in favour at that time, he managed to give to his work a special personal touch.
He concentrated mostly on religous paintings, but also produced a number of portraits and landscapes. Very devout himself, he was able to endow his subjets with a certain spirituality.
Most of his working life was spent in the provinces of Como, Genova, La Spezia, Milano and Varese. In Lombardia his frescoes can still be admired in churches in the following localities:
COMO : Albavilla, Canzo, Colle Brianza, Ello, Lurate, Nava, Plesio, Sirone, Torno.
GENOVA : Chivari (S.Giovanni).
LA SPEZIA: (N.S. della Neve); Bolano, Calice, Nasso.
MASSA-CARRARA : Rocca Sigillina.
MILANO : Affori, Cambiago, Canegrate, Carate Brianza, Cornaredo, Inzago, Milano (S. Giorgio - S. Francesco Saverio), Parabiago, Pessano, Rho (S. Vittore), Robecchetto, Seregno.
VARESE : Gallarate, Gorla Maggiore, Gorla Minore, Venegono Inferiore.
His works are to be found in private collections
His most famous companion artists were Ludovico Pogliaghi, Giovanni Segantini and Cesare Tallone.
While being highly appreciated for his artistic talents, David Beghè was also much loved for his human qualities which led him to support many praise-worthy initiatives especially in the social domain.
He never broke his ties to Calice, where he would spend summer holidays with his family and where he died on January 17, 1933.
His remains are kept in the family chapel in the hamlet of S. Maria (Calice).
