Biagio Pinto was born in Philadelphia in 1911. His two brothers Salvatore Pinto (1905 – 1966) and Angelo Pinto were also artists. Dr. Albert C. Barnes, art collector and founder of the Barnes Foundation, was an ardent supporter of the three brothers—awarding them scholarship money for study and travel and accompanying them to Europe where he introduced them to Henri Matisse. On Matisse’s recommendation, the brothers set out to paint in North Africa. They got as far as Corsica where they were mistaken for spies. When Matisse identified them and vouched for their innocence, they were released.

In 1932, Albert Barnes purchased four paintings by the Pintos—the first local artists to be included in his famous collection. Explaining ...