The 1881 triptych Races at Auteuil stands as a primary example of how Giuseppe De Nittis mastered the pastel medium during the final decade of his short life. This Italian artist navigated the shifting terrain of nineteenth-century European art, moving from the rigid structures of Neapolitan academic training to the experimental atmosphere of the burgeoning Impressionist circle in Paris.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1846 in Barletta, De Nittis received early instruction from Giovanni Battista Calò. His formal education took place at the Reale Instituto di Belle Arti in Naples, an institution established in 1752. His tenure there ended abruptly in 1863 when he was expelled for insubordination. Shortly after, he began exhibiting his work at the 1864 Neapolitan Promotrice and associated with the Macchiaioli group in Florence, establishing professional ties with artists like Telemaco Signorini.
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De Nittis relocated to Paris in 1867, securing a contract with art dealer Adolphe Goupil to produce genre paintings. While his early visibility stemmed from Salon exhibitions, his career trajectory changed upon returning to Italy to paint landscapes, including scenes of Vesuvius. By 1872, he was back in Paris and independent of Goupil, finding critical success with his 1874 work Che freddo!. His travel to London further expanded his stylistic range, leading to a series of Impressionistic compositions.
Impressionism and Pastel Mastery
Edgar Degas invited De Nittis to participate in the First Impressionist Exhibition at Nadar’s in 1874, alongside artists like Giovanni Boldini and Federico Zandomeneghi. While his involvement with the group was limited, he significantly influenced the era through his adoption of pastels in 1875. His Paris residence became a frequent meeting point for writers and artists, where he produced portraits of figures such as Zola, Manet, and De Goncourt. He received a gold medal and the Légion d’honneur for his contributions at the 1878 Exposition Universelle.
Legacy and Collection
De Nittis died unexpectedly of a stroke in 1884 at the age of 38 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. His widow, Léontine Lucile Gruvelle, whom he married in 1869, donated his collection to Barletta, where it is preserved at the Pinacoteca Giuseppe De Nittis within the Palace of the Marra. His works are represented in international institutions, including the Musée d'Orsay, the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Fast facts
- Born: 1846, Barletta, Italy
- Died: 1884, Saint-Germain-en-Laye
- Primary occupations: Painter, printmaker, pastellist
- Education: Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli
- Marriage: Léontine Lucile Gruvelle, 1869
- Major award: Légion d’honneur, 1878
- Notable triptych: Races at Auteuil (1881)
- Burial site: Père Lachaise Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Was Giuseppe De Nittis a core member of the Impressionist movement?
He participated in the First Impressionist Exhibition at the invitation of Edgar Degas but was not fully embraced by the entire circle and did not exhibit with them subsequently.
Where is the largest collection of his work located?
His paintings are held in the Pinacoteca Giuseppe De Nittis, located in the Palace of the Marra in his hometown of Barletta.
Achievements
- Notable work: La Place des Pyramides, Paris (I)
- Notable work: Place du Carrousel and Tuileries in Ruins
