Fattori, Giovanni |
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BORN 6 Sep 1825, Livorno, Toscana - DIED 3 Aug 1908, Firenze, Toscana GRAVE LOCATION Livorno, Toscana: Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie, Via del Poggio, Montenero (Famedio) |
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Giovanni Fattori came from a humble family. He was intended to study for a commercial profession, but his drawing talent led to an apprenticeship with the painter Giuseppe Baldini (1807-1876) in 1845. In 1846 he went to Florence, where he studied under Giuseppe Bezzuoli and at the Academy of Fine Arts. At that time he read many historical novels bt Foscolo, Guerrazzi, Scott and others. In 1848 he abandoned his studies and supported the democratic anti-Austrian movement Partito d'Azione. In 1850 he returned to the Academy in Florence. His first paintings were portraits and historical scenes. Landscapes followed. Around 1857 he was introduced by Enrico Pollastrini to the work of Ingres and this inspired historical paintings like his "Maria Stuarda" (1858-1860). In 1859 he met the painter Giovanni Costa and like him he started painting en plein air. he became a member of the Macchiaioli group of painters. In 1859 he married Settimia Vannucci and he settled with her in Florence. But soon she started to suffer from tuberculosis and between 1861 and 1867 they were often in Livorno because of her health. In 1866 he obtained a large studio in Florence for his historical paintings. In 1867 Settimia died. In 1870 he received a prize at an exhibition in Parma for his "Prince Amadeo Feritio at Custoza". In 1872 in Rome he made studies for "Horse Market at Terracina". This painting was lost, but it won prizes in Vienna (1873) and Philadelphia (1876). In 1875 he visited Paris. There his friend Diego Martelli brought into contact with many artists, among them Pissarro. He preferred the work of the Barbizon school above that of the impressionists. His battle scenes didn't sell well and in 1870 he lost his property in Florence. In the 1880s he painted rural themes and from 1884 onwards he produced many etchings. In 1891 he married Marianna Bigozzi Martinelli. His work provided an income but he was still poor and he wasn't able to participate in an exhibition in Dresden in 1896. In 1900 he became a member of the Accademia Albertina of Turin. Marianna died in 1903 and in 1906 he married Fanny Marinelli. He died in 1908 in Florence. The Museo Civico Giovanni Fattori in Livorno was named after him. Related persons • was teacher of Panerai, Ruggero • met Pissarro, Camille • knew Pollastrini, Enrico |
| Images |
 The grave of Giovanni Fattori at the Famedio of the Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie, Montenero. Picture by Androom (17 Feb 2018) |
Sources • Giovanni Fattori - Wikipedia (EN) |
