Caffi, Ippolito (Belluno, 1809 – 1866, Lissa). Old City in North Africa (19th ce

Gouache, charcoal, thick cardboard

28,7 x 23,3

27,6 x 22,5

Lower right red Arabic script (monogram)

The work was written by Ippolito Caffi during his trip to the Mediterranean. He was absorbed in romantic landscapes, he like many artists of that time. Caffi took part in the struggle for the freedom of Italy, and Lissa died in a naval battle. In 2018, the Caffi exhibition was held at the Sinebryhoff Art Museum in Helsinki.

He was born at Belluno. His first works were produced at the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice. By 1830, he had won awards for his vedute at the Academy. He subsequently moved to Rome, made some reputation by his treatise on perspective, as well as by his investigations on Roman archaeology. In 1843 he visited Greece and the East (Athens, Constantinople, Syria, Egypt, and Malta). The first work of his that created a sensation was Carnival at Venice. This was exhibited at Paris in 1846, and was admired for its brilliant effects of light. Other works are his Panorama of Rome from Monte Mario, Isthmus of Suez, and Close of the Carnival at Rome. He joined revolutionary movements in Venice in 1848, and had to retire into Piedmont. His aim of commemorating in paint the first Italian naval engagement was frustrated when the Re d’ Italia, on which he traveled was destroyed on July 20, 1866, by Austro-Venetian fleet at the battle of Lissa, drowning him along with his comrades.

In 2005-2006, an exhibition of Ippolito Caffi was held in his native Belluno