The Macchiaioli in Milan: light and modernity of the 19th century on display at Palazzo Reale

Milan is preparing to welcome I Macchiaioli, which can be visited from Feb. 3 to June 14 in the rooms of the Palazzo Reale. The exhibition curated by Francesca Dini, Elisabetta Matteucci and Fernando Mazzocca offers an in-depth look at the Italian pictorial movement of the19th century that, anticipating some of the insights of modern art and French Impressionism, revolutionized the way of representing reality through color, light and the feeling of truth. The exhibition offers visitors a path through landscapes, scenes of everyday life and portraits, restoring the essence of an era of political and social transition, marked by the Risorgimento and the birth of a new national consciousness.

The Macchiaioli movement developed in the mid-19th century around the famous Caffè Michelangiolo in Florence, where a group of young artists began painting outdoors (en plein air), favoring direct observation of the outside world over traditional academic schemes. Giovanni Fattori, Silvestro Lega and Telemaco Signorini represent the central figures of the movement. Fattori focused his attention on military and peasant life, giving his compositions a quiet force without rhetoric, while Lega transformed domestic and familiar everyday life into intimate poetry through the skillful use of natural light. Signorini, known for his experimental spirit, turns to the city, suburbs and less celebrated places, offering a surprisingly contemporary look at reality.

The term “Macchiaioli” originated as a critical and ironic appellation, but the artists claimed it and turned it into a symbol of their research. The technique of macchia, based on the contrast between areas of light and shadow, broke with the rules of academic painting to restore a visual and emotional immediacy. The exhibition at the Royal Palace aims to restore the emotional intensity of these works, with the aim of enhancing the role of the Macchiaioli as forerunners of modernity. The exhibition at the Royal Palace is thus an opportunity to take a closer look at the works of a group of artists who redefined 19th-century Italian painting and anticipated European artistic trends.

The exhibition is part of the cultural program of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games and features the Matteucci Institute of Viareggio as a partner institution. The initiative is promoted by the City of Milan - Culture and produced by Palazzo Reale, in collaboration with 24 ORE Cultura - Gruppo 24 ORE and Civita Mostre e Musei.

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The Macchiaioli in Milan: light and modernity of the 19th century on display at Palazzo Reale

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