Born Giuseppe Dangelico in Bari, Italy on November 8, 1939, Pino Daeni, who signed his name, "Pino," began his studies at the Bari Art Institute. In 1960, he entered Milan's Academy of Brera where he honed his talents and skill for painting nudes and the human figure which became the cornerstone of his artwork. From 1960 to 1979, his work appeared in juried exhibitions and won numerous prizes and awards. These paintings were early renderings of the style for which he became famous in years to come. At the same time, he was commissioned by Italy's two largest book publishers, Mondadori and Rizzoli, to create illustrations and cover designs. This experience would provide the foundation for his technical development and launch his career as one of the most important figurative painters of his time. In 1979, Pino immigrated to the United States under the sponsorship of Borghi Gallery where he held several successful shows in New York and Massachusetts. From 1980 to 1994, he gained great popularity and prominence among the book publishers, Zebra, Bantam, Simon and Schuster, Harlequin, Penguin USA, and Dell. His fresh, expressive and dramatic interpretations made him an artist in high demand. His style influenced and dominated the market for book illustration and the romantic book genre for more than a decade. Pino died on May 25, 2010, but his artwork remains deeply respected, highly sought-after by collectors worldwide, and has placed him firmly into the historical narrative of important figurative painters.