Macchiaioli

The Macchiaioli were a group of Italian painters active mainly in Tuscany, centered in Florence, during the 1850s and 1860s. They formed as a reaction against the academic and historicist traditions of the Italian art academies, emphasizing painting from life and direct observation of contemporary society.

Their practice focused on en plein air work and the use of prominent color patches, or macchie, to build form and light rather than relying on precise line or extensive glazing. This approach aimed to capture the effects of natural illumination and the immediacy of ordinary scenes, including landscapes, street life, domestic interiors, and rural labor around Florence and the Tuscan countryside.

Key figures associated with the movement include Giovanni Fattori, Silvestro Lega, Telemaco Signorini, Odoardo Borrani, Adriano Cecioni, and Cesare Maggi. These artists gathered in Florence, notably at the Caffè Michelangiolo, and shared a commitment to outdoor painting, rapid brushwork, and a realistic portrayal of contemporary life.

The Macchiaioli achieved recognition in Florence and Italy through exhibitions and informal groups, and some members exhibited internationally in the later 19th century. Their work is regarded as a precursor to Italian Impressionism, influencing later movements through their emphasis on light, color, and modern subject matter, while retaining a distinctly Tuscan realist sensibility. The movement gradually evolved as Italian painters engaged with broader European currents, but its legacy persisted in how Italian art integrated everyday reality with modern technique.