Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Flaminio #Bertoni, born near Varese in Northern Italy but emigrated to Paris by 1931, sought recognition for his artistic endeavors all his life. Yet, to this day, he remains pretty much an unknown for everyone except #Citroën enthusiasts who, like me, venerate him for having styled the Marque's most iconic models.
The Museo Flaminio Bertoni, hosted within the larger Volandia museum complex, successfully strikes a delicate balance between Bertoni the artist and the industrial designer by displaying the cars loaned by the Citroën "Conservatoire" together with several of Bertoni's sculptures in the same area.
Attracted by sculpture since a young age, Bertoni expressed his ideas at Citroën's "bureau d’études" mainly through scale models.
His sketches look and feel like the preparatory sketches of a sculptor, quickly fixing his ideas on paper before carving them in three dimensions.
Legend has it that Bertoni created the Traction Avant's #design within a single night of feverish work on a scale model that André Citroën approved the following day.
Like the Traction Avant it was meant to replace, the DS was the brainchild of chief engineer André Lefebvre, who tasked Bertoni to develop a shape as aerodynamic as a raindrop. That's what led Bertoni to seek inspiration from marine creatures: the DS had no imposing radiator grille but a shallow "mouth" under its finely sculpted front bumper, with "eyes" almost popping out of the smooth body that gently tapers towards the tail, much like a fish. The DS became an overnight sensation when it was unveiled at the Paris motor show in October 1955, gaining worldwide acclaim as an absolute design masterpiece. However, Bertoni resented not having his contribution publicly recognized by Citroën, which, in keeping with period industry practice, never gave public credit to individuals within its organization.
The exclusive merchandise you can buy to support my channel: teespring.com/stores/roadster-life
My automotive books:
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
amazon.com/dp/1793931046
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985
ENGLISH: amazon.com/dp/1983393746
ITALIAN: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B098GVJ7RK
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 amazon.com/dp/1656632500
Flaminio #Bertoni, born near Varese in Northern Italy but emigrated to Paris by 1931, sought recognition for his artistic endeavors all his life. Yet, to this day, he remains pretty much an unknown for everyone except #Citroën enthusiasts who, like me, venerate him for having styled the Marque's most iconic models.
The Museo Flaminio Bertoni, hosted within the larger Volandia museum complex, successfully strikes a delicate balance between Bertoni the artist and the industrial designer by displaying the cars loaned by the Citroën "Conservatoire" together with several of Bertoni's sculptures in the same area.
Attracted by sculpture since a young age, Bertoni expressed his ideas at Citroën's "bureau d’études" mainly through scale models.
His sketches look and feel like the preparatory sketches of a sculptor, quickly fixing his ideas on paper before carving them in three dimensions.
Legend has it that Bertoni created the Traction Avant's #design within a single night of feverish work on a scale model that André Citroën approved the following day.
Like the Traction Avant it was meant to replace, the DS was the brainchild of chief engineer André Lefebvre, who tasked Bertoni to develop a shape as aerodynamic as a raindrop. That's what led Bertoni to seek inspiration from marine creatures: the DS had no imposing radiator grille but a shallow "mouth" under its finely sculpted front bumper, with "eyes" almost popping out of the smooth body that gently tapers towards the tail, much like a fish. The DS became an overnight sensation when it was unveiled at the Paris motor show in October 1955, gaining worldwide acclaim as an absolute design masterpiece. However, Bertoni resented not having his contribution publicly recognized by Citroën, which, in keeping with period industry practice, never gave public credit to individuals within its organization.
The exclusive merchandise you can buy to support my channel: teespring.com/stores/roadster-life
My automotive books:
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
amazon.com/dp/1793931046
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985
ENGLISH: amazon.com/dp/1983393746
ITALIAN: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B098GVJ7RK
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 amazon.com/dp/1656632500
