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Giuseppe De Nittis: The Italian in Paris
Giuseppe De Nittis (1846–1884) was an Italian painter who played an important, though sometimes overlooked, role in the Parisian art world during the height of Impressionism. Although Italian, he spent the latter part of his career in France and was a friend and contemporary of the core Impressionists, bringing a unique perspective to their movement.
Early Life and Influence
De Nittis was born near Naples, Italy. His early career was associated with the Macchiaioli, a group of Italian painters who were the rough contemporaries of the French Impressionists and also focused on painting outdoors (en plein air). In the late 1860s, he moved to Paris, where he quickly established himself and became friends with Edgar Degas and Édouard Manet. He was one of the few non-French artists invited to participate in the First Impressionist Exhibition in 1874.
Style and Subject Matter
De Nittis’s style is characterized by a sophisticated, meticulous technique that blends the spontaneous light of Impressionism with a detailed Realist finish.
Elegance and Detail: Unlike the looser, sketchier style favored by Monet, De Nittis maintained a high degree of finish and detail in his work. He was highly successful and renowned for capturing the exquisite fashions and refined atmosphere of the Parisian and London upper classes.
Modern Cityscapes: Like Caillebotte, he excelled at painting cityscapes, particularly views of the grand boulevards of Paris and the bustling streets of London. His paintings beautifully captured the atmosphere of these modern, fast-paced metropolises, often focusing on carriages, pedestrians, and the effects of fog or rain.
Atmospheric Landscapes: He also painted landscapes of the Italian countryside and the French coast. These works demonstrate his skill in rendering the natural atmosphere and light, always with a polished technique.
Giuseppe De Nittis successfully bridged the artistic currents between Italy and France, offering an elegant, highly finished, and deeply observed view of modern European high society.