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Lionello Venturi (1885–1961) - Art historian, Scholar, active in Italy, France (1931-39) and the United States (1939-45)

Born in Modena, he was a specialist in the art of the Italian Renaissance, but was also interested in late 19th and early 20th century. Venturi refused to swear allegiance to Benito Mussolini's regime in August 1931 and so was forced to resign from the university.

He left Italy, initially moving to Paris. He then emigrated to the United States in 1939, living in New York City until 1945 and lecturing at a range of American universities. While in America, he joined the antifascist Mazzini Society. After the war he returned to Italy, taking up his chair in art history at Rome.