Piero Gherardi

Piero Gherardi (20 November 1909 – 8 June 1971) was an Italian costume designer, production designer and art director. He is best known to international audiences for his collaborations with directors Mario Monicelli and Federico Fellini. Gherardi has been nominated three times for both the Academy Award for Best Costume Design and the Academy Award for Best Production Design for his work on Fellini's films, and he won twice for creating the costumes for La dolce vita and 8½ (1963).

Born in Poppi, Tuscany, Gherardi studied to become an architect but went into the budding Italian film industry instead after World War II. He began his artistic collaboration with Fellini during the production of I Vitelloni (1953); it all started when the director recognized Gherardi's talent for scouting locations and extras as well as his deep knowledge of the Lazio region. Gherardi then proved his designing skills with providing the sets and costumes for Fellini's Nights of Cabiria (1957).

Gherardi died in Rome on 8 June 1971, at the age of 61.

Selected filmography + List of Piero Gherardi film credits Year Title Director Credited as Notes Costume Designer Production Designer 1947 Daniele Cortis Mario Soldati 1948 Prelude to Madness Gianni Franciolini Without Pity Alberto Lattuada Also set decorator Escape to France Mario Soldati Hey Boy Luigi Comencini Also art director 1949 Alarm Bells Luigi Zampa 1950 My Beautiful Daughter Duilio Coletti Her Favourite Husband Mario Soldati Also art director Side Street Story Eduardo De Filippo Co-designed sets with Piero Filippone Romanzo d'amore Duilio Coletti 1952 Barefoot Savage Clemente Fracassi Red Shirts Goffredo AlessandriniFrancesco Rosi Co-designed sets with Camillo Del Signore and Alfredo Montori 1953 The Unfaithfuls Mario MonicelliSteno Also set decorator The Wayward Wife Mario Soldati 1955 Proibito Mario Monicelli 1957 Fathers and Sons Nights of Cabiria Federico Fellini Doctor and the Healer Mario Monicelli 1958 Big Deal on Madonna Street 1959 The Great War with Danilo DonatiGherardi only designed costumes for Silvana Mangano 1960 La dolce vita Federico Fellini Under Ten Flags Duilio Coletti Le pillole di Ercole Luciano Salce with Lucia Mirisola The Passionate Thief Mario Monicelli The Hunchback of Rome Carlo Lizzani Crimen Mario Camerini 1961 Black City Duilio Coletti 1962 Boccaccio '70 Mario Monicelli Segment: "Renzo e Luciana" 1963 8½ Federico Fellini La ragazza di Bube Luigi Comencini 1964 High Infidelity Mario MonicelliElio PetriFranco RossiLuciano Salce Three Nights of Love Renato CastellaniLuigi ComenciniFranco Rossi 1965 Le bambole Luigi Comencini Segment: "Il trattato di eugenetica" Juliet of the Spirits Federico Fellini Also art director 1966 For Love and Gold Mario Monicelli Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die Jack PulmanDino Maiuri with Maria De MatteisGherardi only designed costumes for Dorothy Provine Sex Quartet Mario Monicelli Segment: "Fata Armenia" 1968 Black on White Jörn Donner Bandits in Rome Alberto De Martino with Elio Micheli 1969 Nerosubianco Tinto Brass with Giuliana Serano The Appointment Sidney Lumet Also art director Giacomo Casanova: Childhood and Adolescence Luigi Comencini

Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryWorkResult Academy Awards 1962 Best Art Direction – Black-and-White La dolce vita Best Costume Design – Black-and-White 1964 Best Art Direction – Black-and-White 8½ Best Costume Design – Black-and-White 1967 Best Art Direction – Color Juliet of the Spirits Best Costume Design – Color Nastro d'Argento Awards 1961 Best Production Design La dolce vita 1964 Best Costume Design 8½ Best Production Design 1966 Best Costume Design Juliet of the Spirits Best Production Design 1967 Best Costume Design For Love and Gold Best Production Design 1970 Best Costume Design Giacomo Casanova: Childhood and Adolescence Best Production Design