Daniele Ranzoni facts for kids
Daniele Ranzoni (1843–1889) was a talented Italian painter from the 1800s. He was born in a town called Intra, near Lake Maggiore in Italy. Ranzoni became famous for his unique painting style, especially his portraits.
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A Young Artist's Journey
Daniele Ranzoni came from a working-class family. His father was a shoemaker. Daniele started his art training very young, at just thirteen years old. He went to the Brera Academy in Milan. Later, he studied at the Albertina Academy in Turin. Thanks to a special scholarship, he returned to study in Milan. There, he learned from a great teacher, Giuseppe Bertini. Bertini encouraged his students to draw from nature. He also wanted them to try new things with colors.
In Milan, Ranzoni became good friends with Tranquillo Cremona and the sculptor Giuseppe Grandi. Their shared ideas led to a new art style in the 1870s. This style was called Scapigliatura. It was like the first "avant-garde" (meaning very new and experimental) art movement in Italy.
A New Way to Paint
Ranzoni invented a special painting method. Instead of drawing clear outlines, he built shapes using different shades of color. He put bright splashes of color directly onto the canvas. He did this without first drawing a sketch. His brushstrokes were quick and loose. This helped to show different tones and how light and shadow played on things.
This new way of painting by Ranzoni and Cremona was similar to what Impressionist artists were doing in Paris. However, the Impressionists often painted landscapes. Ranzoni and the Scapigliati artists focused more on portraits. They wanted to show feelings, moods, and the inner thoughts of people.
Painting Famous People
Ranzoni was mainly a portrait painter. He became the favorite artist for rich, important people. Many of these people were from other countries. They lived around Lake Maggiore in the 1870s and 1880s. Ranzoni lived between Milan and his hometown of Intra.
He became close with Ada Troubetzkoy, an American opera singer. She was married to Prince Pierre Troubetzkoy. Ada had three sons, and she asked Ranzoni to teach them art. Two of her sons became artists. Paul Troubetzkoy became a famous sculptor. Pierre became a well-known painter of society portraits.
Ada helped Ranzoni meet many important people around Lake Maggiore. He painted their portraits. Because of these connections, he was invited to England. He spent two years there (1878-1879). During this time, he painted many members of the English upper class.
Later Years and Legacy
When Ranzoni returned to Italy, things had changed. The group of international friends he used to paint was leaving. A big economic problem, called the "Long Depression," was happening. This made many people return to their home countries.
From 1880 to 1885, Ranzoni created some of his most important works. He felt sad about the changes in his world. This led to a period of intense artistic work mixed with despair. He went through a very difficult time. However, this challenging period seemed to make his artistic vision even stronger. The paintings he made during and after this time are considered his best.
He died on October 29, 1889. The few works he made in his last years are very powerful. They show strong emotions. These paintings became almost abstract. He used very little paint and often only two colors. Sometimes, he used just different shades of one color, like gray. These paintings show how light changes. They also show the artist's deep feelings about the people he painted.
Where to See His Art
Most of Ranzoni's paintings are in private collections. But you can find some of his works in museums. Eight museums in Northern Italy have his paintings or drawings.
The biggest collections are in the Landscape Museum in Pallanza - Verbania. You can also see his art in Milan at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna and the Castello Sforzesco. The "Galleria d’Arte Moderna Paolo e Adele Giannoni" in Novara has two of his paintings on loan. Other museums in Varese, Biella, and Pavia have also bought or received some of his paintings. The Pinacoteca of the Fondzione Cassa di Risparmia in Tortona owns his "Portrait of the child Ettore Nicò."
Sources
- Annie-Paule Quinsac, Daniele Ranzoni. Catalogo ragionato dei dipinti e dei disegni, Skira, Milano 1997.
See also
In Spanish: Daniele Ranzoni para niños
