Eugenio Cecconi (September 8, 1842 – December 19, 1903) was an Italian painter. He is most noted for his paintings of hunting scenes and the Italian countryside, however his work also includes many representations of Oriental themes.

Early life

He was born in

Livorno Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 158,493 residents in December 2017. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn (pronou ...

into a wealthy family. His father owned substantial lands around Livorno, and the rents were used not only to support his large family, but also to assist those who worked towards a unified Italy. For his support of the rebels, Eugenio's father was forced into exile, taking refuge in the countryside. The boy, Eugenio, acquired his love of nature and animals during this period and developed a passion for hunting.

Education and career

He first studied jurisprudence at the University of Pisa, then entered a course of study under the sculptor Fazzi from Lucca, a pupil of Carlo Markò the elder. He moved to Florence to practice law with Leopoldo Cempini, but began to attend courses of painting at the Academy under

Enrico Pollastrini Enrico Pollastrini (15 June 1817, Livorno – 19 January 1876, Florence) was an Italian history painter and art school director. Life and work He began his training as an assistant in the workshop of a local artist named Vincenzo De Bonis. In 1 ...

. Following his father's death in 1864 he abandoned law, and concentrated on painting. His early work concentrated on portraits of customers, painted inside his studio. However, when the weather was good, he would take to the hills and paint scenes from the countryside. In 1866, he volunteered with other Tuscan artists to fight in the wars of Italian Independence. After that campaign, he opened a studio in Livorno adjacent to Adolfo Belimbau. By the summer of that year,

Diego Martelli Diego Martelli (October 29, 1839 – November 20, 1896) was an Italian art critic who was one of the first supporters of Impressionism in Italy. He was a defender and associate of the Tuscan artists the Macchiaioli, whom he often hosted at his esta ...

hosted him to

Castiglioncello Castiglioncello (formerly ''Castiglione Mondiglio'') is a ''frazione'' of 3800 inhabitants of the ''comune'' of Rosignano Marittimo, in the province of Livorno, Tuscany, Italy. Located in a privileged position from the panoramic point of view, aw ...

: where he works alongside Boldini,

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, and

Abbati Abbati is an Italian surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Armanda Degli Abbati (1879–1946), Italian opera singer * Giuseppe Abbati (1836-1868), Italian artist *Pietro Abbati Marescotti (1768-1842), Italian mathematician *Pietro Gio ...

. In 1869, he considered himself sufficient as a painter, and began to exhibit some of his works at the Promotrice di Turin. Encouraged by friends and other painters, he exhibited again in 1872 at the second National Exhibition of Milan. The 1872 exhibition was a turning point in his career, as his work gained considerable public and critical attention. In 1873, he moved to Ceppato, near

Lari Lari may refer to: Currency * Georgian lari, the currency of Georgia * Maldivian laari, or lari, a coin denomination of the rufiyaa of the Maldives Places *Lari Constituency, an electoral constituency in Kenya * Lari, Ardabil, or Lahrud, a ...

, painting hunting scenes. He became friends with

Francesco Gioli Francesco Gioli (29 June 1846, San Frediano a Settimo – 4 February 1922, Florence) was an Italian painter and member of the Macchiaioli movement. His brother Luigi, was also a painter of some note. Biography He was born to a wealthy family. H ...

and Corcos. In 1875, he travelled to Tunisia with Belimbau. Upon returning to Tuscany, he settled in Torre del Lago, the hamlet which was now a locus for artistic pilgrimages due to the presence of the Villa of Puccini. Following his sojourn in Tunisia, he became interested in Oriental scenes. His experience also changed his perceptions of colour and light. In 1880 he exhibited ''Cenciaiole Livornesi'' and exhibited at the International Exposition of Modern Paintings at the società Donatello. In 1881-1888, he exhibited at Florence, Rome, Milan, Bologna, and Turin.Pinacoteca Livorno
short biography. Extracted from ''La pittura in Italia - l'Ottocento''. Electa, Milan, 1992; ''La pittura Toscana dopo la macchia''. De Agostini, Novara, 1994 Raffaele Monti e Giuliano Matteucci (a cura di), ''I Postmacchiaioli'', Edizioni De Luca, Rome 1994. He died in Florence in 1903.

Work

Cecconi worked in oils, pencil and watercolor drawings, tempers, engravings and also with fresco. His early work feature portraits and scenes of the Italian countryside. His later works include Oriental themes. He is most noted for his hunting scenes featuring hunting dogs.

Select list of paintings

* ''Hunted Rally'' * ''Maremmano Braccaiolo'' * ''Hunters' Park'' * ''Hunters on the Seashore'' * ''Hunting in the Fucecchio Padule'' * ''Hunting Appointment'' * ''Deer Death'' * ''Hound Dogs'' * ''Wild Boar'' * ''Cenciaiole Livornesi'' 1880 * ''Paesaggio Invernale,'' 1885 * ''Volto di Donna Araba,''

References

External links