Art of Italy

Modernity

From Mannerism onward there are more and more art movements representing tides of opinion pushing in various different directions, causing art philosophy over the centuries from about the 16th century onward to gradually fragment into the characteristic isms of Modern art.

Related Topics:
Art movements - 16th century - Ism - Modern art

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The work of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio sometimes simply called Caravaggio (1571-1610) stands on its own as one of the most original and influential artists who ever lived. He did something completely contraversial and new. He painted figures, even those of classical or religious themes, in contemporary clothing or as ordinary living men and women. This in stark opposition to the usual trend of the time to idealise the religious or classical figure. Caravaggio set the style for many years to come, although not everyone followed his example. Some, like Agostino Carracci (or Caracci) (1557 to 1602) and his brothers were all influenced by Caravaggio but leaned toward the idealism and spirituality from which Caravaggio was perceived to have strayed.

Related Topics:
Michelangelo Merisi - Caravaggio - 1571 - 1610 - Agostino Carracci - 1557 - 1602

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Baroque

A movement to reform Mannerism, Italian Baroque art saw Mannerism as excessive and tried to bring it back to Christian piety. Nevertheless, this reform took place within the context of the Mannerist attempt to introduce more movement and passion and is part of a conceptual dialogue with Mannerism.

Related Topics:
Baroque - Christian - Piety - Dialogue

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Rococo

Rococo was the tail end of the Baroque period, mainly in France of the 18th century. The main artist of the Rococo style in Italy was Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696 to 1770).

Related Topics:
Rococo - France - 18th century - Giovanni Battista Tiepolo - 1696 - 1770

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Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

Italy produced its own form of Impressionism, the Macchiaioli artists, who were actually there first, before the more famous Impressionists.

Related Topics:
Impressionism - Macchiaioli

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Expressionism

The great Italian Expressionist was Amedeo Modigliani (1884 to 1920).

Related Topics:
Expressionist - Amedeo Modigliani - 1884 - 1920

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Cubism, Futurism and Dada

Across all forms of art, architecture, literature, painting etc. new approaches were taken. Futurism was the Italian movement contemporaneous with Cubism. Futurism was started by the poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti in 1909. Marietti influenced Italian painters and suggested that the paintings seen in Parisian Cubist exhibitions were examples of the direction Italian painters should be taking. The most famous Italian Cubist/Futrist painter was Gino Severini (1883-1966). As Cubism attempted to modernise perspective representation by adopting not one but several points of view, so Futurism attempted to modernise all the arts and imbue them with force and dynamism by multiple methods. The Futurists loved movement and dance. The Futurists were also great enthusiasts of science and machines. Their love of machines was mercilessly parodied by the Dadaists. Much of Dada's style and methods came originally from subverting Futurism.

Related Topics:
Futurism - Cubism - Filippo Tommaso Marinetti - 1909 - Gino Severini - 1883 - 1966 - Representation - Dada

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Metaphysical painting and Surrealism

Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978) was the Italian painter who founded the Metaphysical school of painting and was an enormous influence upon the Surrealists.

Related Topics:
Giorgio de Chirico - 1888 - 1978 - Metaphysical - Surrealist

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