Italian-born French painter Celestin Messaggio was born in Lombardy-Italy, his parents left Italy for Normandy when he was still only a child. From 1955, the land of the "men from the north" will inspire Messaggio’s artistic beginnings. His attachment to Normandy is still present in his paintings today: "If today I also wish to reproduce the warm light of the south, the waters of Venice remain a mirror reflecting my visit of the water gardens in Giverny".
