Giuseppe De Nittis

Giuseppe De Nittis - Italian Painter Bridging Salon Art & Impressionism

Giuseppe De Nittis (1846-1884) was one of the most important Italian painters of the 19th century, whose work merges the styles of salon art and impressionism. Born in Barletta, Italy on February 25, 1846, De Nittis first studied under Giovanni Battista Calò before being expelled from the Instituto di Belle Arti in Naples for insubordination. Early Career De Nittis launched his career with the exhibition of two paintings at the 1864 Neapolitan Promotrice. He came into contact with some of the artists known as the Macchiaioli, becoming friends with Telemaco Signorini and exhibiting in Florence. In 1867, he moved to Paris and entered into a contract with the art dealer Adolphe Goupil, which called for him to produce saleable genre works. Rise to Prominence After gaining some visibility by exhibiting at the Salon, De Nittis returned to Italy where he felt free to paint from nature. In 1872, he returned to Paris and achieved success at the Salon with his painting *Che freddo!* (*It's So Cold!*) of 1874 (Private collection). He was invited to exhibit at the first Impressionist exhibition, held at Nadar’s, where he met artists such as Edgar Degas. De Nittis took up pastels in 1875, which became an important medium for him in his remaining years. Later Career and Legacy De Nittis exhibited twelve paintings in the Exposition Universelle of 1878, and was awarded a gold medal. In that same year he received the Légion d’honneur. De Nittis' work can be found in various museums, including the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, British Museum in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Some of his notable works include: *Winter Landscape*, *Self-Portrait*, *Place des Pyramides*, *Che Freddo!* (*It's So Cold!*) and *Races at Auteuil*. His use of pastels and emphasis on capturing light and color have influenced many artists. For more information on De Nittis and his contemporaries, visit Telemaco Signorini or check out the wikipedia page on Giuseppe De Nittis. Notable Exhibitions: Exposition Universelle (1878), Salon des Refusés (1863), Salon (1872). His work can be found in: Musée d’Orsay in Paris, British Museum in London, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. De Nittis died suddenly of a stroke at Saint-Germain-en-Laye on August 21, 1884. His wife, Léontine Lucile Gruvelle, donated his paintings to the town of Barletta, where they are now gathered in the Pinacoteca De Nittis in the Palace of the Marra in the hometown of the painter.