Giuseppe De Nittis: A Painter of Light and Italian Soul Giuseppe De Nittis (1846 – 1884) stands as a pivotal figure in the transition between academic tradition and the burgeoning Impressionism that swept across Europe during the latter half of the 19th century. More than simply an artist, he was a conduit between the vibrant, often turbulent, spirit of Southern Italy—specifically his birthplace, Barletta—and the evolving artistic cur…