Giovanni Segantini was an Italian painter known for his large pastoral landscapes of the Alps. Born on January 15, 1858, in Arco, Trentino, which was then part of the County of Tyrol in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Segantini would go on to become one of the most famous artists in Europe in the late 19th century.
Early Life and Career
Segantini's early life was marked by poverty and hardship. His father, Agostino Segatini, was a tradesman who traveled extensively, leaving Giovanni with his mother, Margherita de Giradi, who struggled with depression after the death of their older son, Lodovico. After his mother's death in 1865, Segantini was left to fend for himself and later ran away from home, ending up on the streets of Milan. He was eventually committed to the Marchiondi Reformatory, where he learned basic cobbling skills but little else.
It wasn't until he was in his mid-30s that Segantini learned to read and write. A chaplain at the reformatory noticed his talent for drawing and encouraged him to develop his skills. In 1873, Segantini's half-brother Napoleon claimed him from the reformatory, and for the next year, Segantini lived with Napoleon in Trentino, learning the basics of photography.
Artistic Career
Segantini attended classes at the Brera Academy in Milan, where he became friends with members of the Scapigliatura movement, a group of artists, poets, writers, and musicians who sought to erase the differences between art and life. His first major painting,
The Chancel of Sant Antonio, was noticed for its powerful quality, and in 1879, it was acquired by Milan's Società per le Belle Arti.
Segantini's work was influenced by artists such as Anton Mauve and Jean-François Millet, introduced to him by Vittore Grubicy de Dragon, who became his advisor and dealer. Segantini's style combined a Divisionist painting approach with Symbolist images of nature. He was active in Switzerland during the last period of his life, where he created some of his most notable works.
WahooArt.com offers a range of
Giovanni Segantini's paintings, including
The Chancel of Sant Antonio, which can be ordered as canvas prints or hand-painted replicas. The website also features a biography of the artist and information on his life and work.
Legacy
Segantini's legacy is that of a master painter who captured the beauty of the Alps in his large pastoral landscapes. His work continues to inspire artists and art lovers alike, with many of his paintings available for viewing at
Museum Mittelalterlicher Österreichischer Kunst in Vienna, Austria.
Some of Segantini's notable works include:
Segantini's life was marked by hardship and struggle, but his legacy is one of beauty and inspiration. His paintings continue to be celebrated for their unique style and captivating landscapes.
For more information on Giovanni Segantini and his work, visit
WahooArt.com or
Wikipedia.