Student Artwork Guide — The painter

Name Class Date

Silvestro Lega, The painter (1869). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Silvestro Lega topimpressionists.com/en/artists/silvestro-lega/
Artist’s dates: 1826 – 1895
Painted: 1869
Original size: 81 x 35 cm
Movement: Realism Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Silvestro Lega died in 1895; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1965.

The painter — Silvestro Lega

How big is it?

The original measures 81 × 35 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

1820
1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890

03
413
1423
2433
3443
4453
5463
6469

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 69 at death.

Painted when the artist was 43. The artist lived to 69. 18 of the 48 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Silvestro Lega (1826–1895) ▲ this work, 1869 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1864 Main working years: 1864–1885 Late works: from 1885

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Head of a woman, 1885 topimpressionists.com/en/art/silvestro-lega-head-of-a-woman-D2K9L7-en/
The owner of the farm, 1887 topimpressionists.com/en/art/silvestro-lega-the-owner-of-the-farm-D2KA6M-en/
The Bandini sisters, 1890 topimpressionists.com/en/art/silvestro-lega-the-bandini-sisters-D2PD2V-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/silvestro-lega-the-painter-D2K69L-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Phthalo Green #141f10

Catalogued palette

#141F10
#4F430D
#55562C
#897D41

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Main colour name: Phthalo Green
Intensity: Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Silvestro Lega over the last twelve months — 7 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 Italy 48.6%
2 China 31.4%
3 Canada 8.6%
4 Hong Kong 2.9%
5 India 2.9%
6 Singapore 2.9%
7 United States of America 2.9%

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 19 most looked-at works by Silvestro Lega

1 Il pergolato (also known as Il dopopranzo), 1868 25.6%
2 The pergola, 1864 20.9%
3 La visita, 1868 9.3%
4 The Bandini sisters, 1890 7.0%
5 Ritorno di bersaglieri italiani da una ricognizione, 1861 4.7%
6 Young peasant woman 4.7%
7 The reading, 1867 2.3%
8 Man writing, 1885 2.3%
9 The water wheel [sketch], 1863 2.3%
10 Don Giovanni 2.3%
11 Farmhouse with haystack, 1880 2.3%
12 Head of the Virgin Mary from Perugino, 1845 2.3%
13 Signora al Pianoforte 2.3%
14 Bust of a peasant woman, 1873 2.3%
15 In the villa, 1880 2.3%
16 The owner of the farm, 1887 2.3%
17 Head of a woman, 1885 2.3%
18 Little country church, 1874 2.3%
— The painter, 1869 this painting 0.0%

Together these works take 99.8% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 62 works by this artist, of which 18 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Artist

Silvestro Lega

Born in Modignan, Italy

Silvestro Lega: A Life in Italian Realism

Born: Modignan, Italy (1826)

Died: 1895

Silvestro Lega was a significant figure in 19th-century Italian art, recognized as a leading artist within the Macchiaioli movement. His work embodies a commitment to realism and observation of everyday life, intertwined with his involvement in the political currents of his time.

Early Life and Artistic Training

Family Background: Lega was born into an affluent family in Modigliana, near Forlì.

Education: From 1838, he attended the Piarist College where his drawing skills became apparent. He then studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence (1843-1847), initially under Benedetto Servolini and Tommaso Gazzarini for drawing, briefly studying painting with Giuseppe Bezzuoli.

Influence of Luigi Mussini: Lega’s training continued under Luigi Mussini, emphasizing 15th-century Florentine principles of drawing and construction. This foundation shaped his early artistic approach.

Military Service & Risorgimento: As a Garibaldian volunteer, Lega participated in the military campaigns for Italian independence (1848–49), demonstrating his engagement with the Risorgimento.

Further Studies: He later studied under Antonio Ciseri.

The Macchiaioli Movement and Artistic Development

Initial Academic Style: Initially, Lega’s style remained largely academic, as noted by contemporary Diego Martelli who observed his infrequent participation in the vibrant artistic discussions at the Caffè Michelangelo, a hub for young painters.

Transition to Realism: By 1859, Lega's work began shifting towards realism, moving away from Mussini’s purist approach. This evolution is evident in the lunettes he painted for the Oratory of the Madonna del Cantone in Modigliana (1858-1863).

En Plein Air Painting: Lega joined his Macchiaioli colleagues – Odoardo Borrani, Giuseppe Abbati, Telemaco Signorini, and Raffaello Sernesi – in embracing en plein air painting, directly observing and capturing the nuances of landscapes.

The Batelli Family Period (1861-1870): A significant period in Lega’s life was spent with the Batelli family near the Affrico River. This time profoundly influenced his art, as he depicted their children and women in numerous paintings, reflecting a sense of domestic tranquility.

Key Works and Artistic Style

Notable Paintings: Some of Lega’s most celebrated works include “A Walk in the Garden” (1870), "Il Pergolato" (also known as "Il dopopranzo") (1864), “The House of Don Giovanni Veritá” (1885), “In the Garden” (1883), and “Garden in Bellariva” (1884).

Style Characteristics: Lega’s style is characterized by a careful balance between traditional composition and contemporary use of color, derived from direct observation. He employed carefully defined forms and rendered atmosphere with transparency of colors. His later works show an Impressionistic influence.

Thematic Focus: His paintings often depict scenes of rural life, family gatherings, and portraits, reflecting a focus on the everyday experiences of ordinary people.

Later Years and Legacy

Personal Tragedy: The loss of Virginia Batelli (his companion), along with three brothers, plunged Lega into deep grief and depression in 1870. This period led to a four-year hiatus from painting (1874-1878).

Artistic Exploration & Impressionism: Despite his personal struggles, Lega remained engaged with the art world. He admired the works of Camille Pissarro and established an art gallery in Florence with Odoardo Borrani, though it was short-lived.

Final Years: In his later years, he became a tutor for the sons of the Tommasi family, finding renewed stability and artistic inspiration. His final works, such as “The Gabbarigiane,” demonstrate a continued commitment to realism despite failing eyesight.

Historical Significance: Silvestro Lega’s contribution lies in his ability to synthesize traditional compositional techniques with the emerging realist aesthetic of the Macchiaioli movement. He captured the essence of Italian life with sensitivity and skill, leaving behind a body of work that continues to resonate with audiences today. His focus on everyday subjects elevated them to artistic significance, contributing to the broader shift towards realism in 19th-century European art.

Where to read more

The artist Silvestro Lega topimpressionists.com/en/artists/silvestro-lega/
Similar works More works to compare topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/silvestro-lega-the-painter-D2K69L-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for The painter

topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/silvestro-lega-the-painter-D2K69L-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Lega, Silvestro. The painter. 1869, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/silvestro-lega-the-painter-D2K69L-en/
APA: Lega, Silvestro (1869). The painter [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/silvestro-lega-the-painter-D2K69L-en/
Chicago: Silvestro Lega. The painter. 1869. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/silvestro-lega-the-painter-D2K69L-en/
Harvard: Lega, Silvestro (1869) The painter. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/silvestro-lega-the-painter-D2K69L-en/

The painter — Silvestro Lega

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
Look back at Head of a woman (1885), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Realism: Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander. Where can you see that in this work?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

Do the colors of "The painter" appear strong or soft?

"The painter" by Silvestro Lega shows a monochromatic color intensity.

From which country does the Realism work "The painter" come?

"The painter" connects the Realism movement with Italy through its creator's birthplace.

Who is the author of "The painter", and in which movement?

Silvestro Lega created "The painter" within the Realism movement.