Gabriele Smargiassi was born in Abruzzo, in Vasto in 1798. He abandoned his ecclesiastical studies, to which he had been at first initiated, to move in 1817 to Naples.

Here he began his figure courses at the school of Giuseppe Cammarano (Sciacca 1766 – Naples 1850).

However, he soon gave up this teaching to apply himself to the landscape under the guidance of the painter Anton Sminck van Pitloo (Arnhem 1790 – Naples 1837).

From 1824 to 1828 he was in Rome, then traveled through Switzerland and was in Paris.

Here, protected by the Duchess of Orleans, he was also master of painting of the princes, the sons of Louis-Philippe.

In these years of stays in France a little less than a decade, until 1837, he exhibited in Paris, London, as well as Naples.

In 1838 he repatriated to attempt the succession of Anton Sminck van Pitloo to the Chair of Landscape at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples.

This prestigious chair had become vacant for the early end of the Dutch painter Pitloo crushed by cholera.

Gabriele Smargiassi was part of the circle of painters of the

It was not an easy competition, because the post was bitterly contested by Salvatore Fergola (Naples 1796 – 1874), but he eventually won so that he could settle in Naples, where he had the greatest official success.

Master first of Luigi di Borbone and then of the Count of Siracusa. He died on May 13, 1882.

During his youthful wanderings through Europe and the long stop in France, where Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (Paris 1796 – 1875) worked, he found a happiness of touch that was able to enliven his views, usually inspired by an academic style and scenic flair.