The Macchiaioli Italian artistic movement of the 19th Century
Origins and History of the Macchiaioli
The Macchiaioli movement emerged in Florence around 1855 as a reaction to rigid academic norms. Artists gathered at Caffè Michelangiolo, inspired by French avant-gardes, and the group lasted until 1867.
Key influences include the “ton gris” observed by Saverio Altamura at the Exposition Universelle and Prince Anatolio Demidoff’s collection featuring works by Ingres, Corot, and Delacroix.
External influences and Tuscan roots
Artists like Domenico Morelli and Serafino De Tivoli brought innovative impulses from Paris.
Rooted in Tuscany, the Macchiaioli traveled to France, engaging with Barbizonniers and Impressionists, focusing on everyday subjects and local chromatism.
Main characteristics of the Macchiaioli
The Macchiaioli stand out for using “macchie” of color with quick brushstrokes, en plein air painting to capture natural light, absence of excessive details, and depictions of rural life. This style anticipates modern techniques, emphasizing realism and atmosphere.
Unlike French Impressionists, the Macchiaioli prioritize stable everyday reality, with vivid chiaroscuro effects and balanced compositions.
Main painters of the Macchiaioli movement
Among the protagonists: Giovanni Fattori (rural landscapes and military scenes), Telemaco Signorini (critic and engraver, with works like “The Ward of the Madwomen”), Silvestro Lega (melancholic domestic scenes), Odoardo Borrani (natural landscapes), Francesco Gioli (peasant themes), Antonio Fontanesi (romantic landscapes indirectly influenced), and Raffaello Sernesi (en plein air landscapes).
Famous works of the Macchiaioli
Celebrated paintings include “The Passage of the Bianchina” by Fattori, “The Battle of Magenta” by Signorini, and “Portrait of a Woman” by Lega, exemplifying the movement’s realism and innovation.
The Macchiaioli revolutionized 19th-century Italian painting, influencing contemporary art with their realistic and luminous approach.
