Beni Montresor

Beni Montresor (1926–2001) was an Italian artist, film director, set and costume designer, author, and illustrator of children’s books.

He worked extensively in the United States as a designer of sets and costumes for opera productions. From 1988 to 1989, he served as artistic director of the Rome Opera House (Teatro dell’Opera di Roma).

Throughout his career, Montresor collaborated with some of Italy’s most prominent filmmakers, including Federico Fellini, Vittorio De Sica, and Roberto Rossellini.

He also received the Caldecott Medal in 1965 for May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers — one of the highest American awards for children’s book illustration.

Amazon | Beni Montresor


Books

May I Bring a Friend?

May I Bring a Friend?

A timeless picture book where poetry, color, and kindness meet. Beni Montresor’s jewel-like illustrations turn a simple story into a royal celebration — full of rhythm, wit, and a touch of absurd charm. Every page glows with rich, theatrical color, as if lit from within by stage lights. You can […]

Mommies at work

Mommies at work

Montresor’s illustrations in Mommies at Work are immediately striking. The original 1961 edition uses deep purples with bright yellow accents, giving each page a sketchy, almost theatrical feel. At first, the images seem to show the familiar — moms cooking, washing dishes, zipping coats — but as the book unfolds, […]

The birthday of the infanta and other tales

The birthday of the infanta and other tales

Beni Montresor’s illustrations for The Birthday of the Infanta and Other Tales feel like fragments of a stage performance. Every detail — from fabrics to gestures — follows the logic of theater. The figures don’t just pose; they act. Space, movement, and silence all play their part, as if the […]

Willy O’Dwyer jumped in the fire

Willy O’Dwyer jumped in the fire

In this wild, rhythmic picture book, Beatrice Schenk de Regniers spins a mischievous, folk-like tale full of repetition, humor, and absurdity. Beni Montresor’s vivid, expressionistic illustrations heighten the sense of heat, rhythm, and madness. His bold colors and surreal compositions match the feverish energy of the text, turning this simple […]

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood

In this striking reinterpretation of the classic tale, Beni Montresor returns to Charles Perrault’s original, preserving its dark ending and omitting the moral. Inspired by Gustave Doré’s engravings, his theatrical illustrations transform the story into a symbolic meditation on innocence, danger, and transformation. Through layers of shadow and light, Montresor […]

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