International studio (53.1914)

Studio-Talk


“a STONEHEWER” BY GIOVANNI FATTORI
f Collection of Sgr. Mario Galli—By courtesy of the Casa Editrice “ Self )

movement in painting in their own country. But
from the Alps to the most southern point of Sicily
a revolution was taking place in art as well as in
politics. In every province the new movement
was discussed and taken up by a few sincere
artists. Following the tradition of their great
ancestors, Giotto, Massaccio, Piero della Francesca
and others, their only true aim was to create true
art. In the works they produced there is no trace
of imitation, either of their French contemporaries or
one another. Little they cared for the approval or
disapproval of the public or the academic repre-
sentatives of art. Florence became the centre of
the movement and while De Nittis and Boldini
emigrated to France some of the others remained
in their native country. They used to meet in a
small cafe, which soon acquired considerable
notoriety as a resort of these champions of the new
movement, and many guests who came for a visit to
Florence joined in the lively and sometimes even

stormy dicussions which were held there on art and
politics.

Amongst this group of artists was Giovanni Fattori.
He was undoubtedly the most characteristic and
sincere of the Florentine macchiajuoli, as they are
called. Born at Leghorn in 1825 of poor parents,
he had all through his life a hard struggle to get a
living. But he would not sacrifice his convictions
for temporary success and fought pluckily against
the stale traditions of the official schools of painting.
Fattori’s school was nature, and the numerous works
he produced under the direct inspiration of that
instructor are a testimony to the efficacy of her
teaching. They are so true and convincing and
executed in so simple and so personal a manner,
that one cannot but feel surprised at the long time
the artist had to wait before his talent was recognised
in Italy. He died in 1908 after an active and
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