Hayez

Francesco Hayez (1791–1882) was an Italian painter and a leading figure of the Romantic movement in 19th-century Italian art, mainly active in Milan. Trained in the Milanese art milieu, he became renowned for historical and religious subjects as well as refined portrait painting, and he helped shape the direction of Italian Romanticism in the decades around 1830–1870.

Hayez is best known for The Kiss (Il Bacio), painted in 1859. The work epitomizes Italian Romanticism with its restrained yet powerful emotion, expressive figures, and dramatic lighting. Beyond this emblematic piece, his oeuvre includes lyrical historical and literary scenes and polished portraits, often characterized by supple brushwork and a luminous palette that blended classical discipline with Romantic feeling.

His influence extended to a generation of Italian painters in Lombardy and beyond, contributing to a shift away from strict Neoclassicism toward more expressive, emotionally charged imagery. Hayez remained active through much of the 19th century, aligning with the cultural currents of his time and helping to define the visual language of Italian Romantic painting.

Today, Hayez’s paintings are housed in major Italian collections. The Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan holds several key works, including The Kiss, and his art is represented in museums across Milan and other Italian cities, reflecting his enduring significance in Italian art history.