Alfonso Simonetti (29 December 1840 – 22 August 1892) was an Italian painter of historical scenes, portraits and landscapes; best known for his works with moonlight and sunset effects.

Life and work

Simonetti was born in Naples, Italy, to the painter Giuseppe Simonetti (fl. 1840–1864) and his wife Vincenza, née Piccirillo. In 1859, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under

Gabriele Smargiassi Gabriele Smargiassi (22 July 1798, Vasto – 12 May 1882, Naples) was an Italian landscape painter and professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli, Academy of Fine Arts in Naples.

and

Giuseppe Mancinelli Giuseppe Mancinelli (17 March 1813, in Naples – 25 May 1875, in Castrocielo) was an Italian painter. Biography His father was in the service of the Venitgnano family, who patronized his early studies at the Neapolitan Academy of Fine Arts, the ...

. His debut came in 1862, at the Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts, with his depiction of the mercenary soldier,

Ettore Fieramosca Ettore Fieramosca (born Ferramosca) (Capua, 1476 – Valladolid, 20 January 1515) was an Italian condottiero and nobleman during the Italian Wars. His father was Rainaldo, baron of Rocca d'Evandro, and it is thought that his mother was a noble wo ...

, at

Mount Gargano Gargano (, Gargano Apulian Italo-Romance arˈgæːnə is a historical and geographical sub-region in the province of Foggia, Apulia, southeast Italy, consisting of a wide isolated mountain massif made of highland and several peaks and forming ...

. Two years later, he was awarded a scholarship to study in Florence. In 1873, he was commissioned to paint a portrait of

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...

. Shortly after, he returned to Naples and, in 1877, exhibited two major works: ''Without Hope, She is Dead'' and ''The Last Ray''. At the 1880 Exposition Artistica of Turin, he exhibited ''Malaria'' and ''Serenade''. In honor of his former teacher, he painted a street scene of the ''Via Giuseppe Mancinelli'', which was later exhibited in Paris at the

Exposition Universelle (1889) The Exposition Universelle of 1889 () was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from 5 May to 31 October 1889. It was the fourth of eight expositions held in the city between 1855 and 1937. It attracted more than thirty-two million visitors. The ...

. He was represented at the opening of the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome by a large landscape called ''Sunset'' (1883). Two more landscapes were shown at the Fine Arts Exhibition in Venice (1887): ''My Lord Forest'' and ''Harvesting Olive Trees''. He also exhibited outside of Italy. At the Italian Exposition of London, he displayed ''Forest''; ''Countryside of Castrocielo'', and the historical canvas: ''Gutenberg, Faust and Coeffer print the first page of the Bible''. In Melbourne, Australia, he exhibited ''Costume of Castrocielo''. Three of his major canvases are displayed at the Pinacoteca of the Museo di Capodimonte: ''Winter Morning''; ''Street in Castrocielo'', and the portrait ''Tired''. His works may also be seen at the and the in Florence. He was appointed an honorary professor at the Accademia in 1872, and was named a Knight of the

Order of the Crown of Italy The Order of the Crown of Italy ( it, Ordine della Corona d'Italia, italic=no or OCI) was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861. It was awarded in five degrees for civi ...

. ‘‘Dizionario degli Artisti Italiani Viventi: pittori, scultori, e Architetti.’’
by Angelo de Gubernatis. . Tipe dei Successori Le Monnier, 1889, page 480-481.

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External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simonetti, Alfonso 1840 births 1892 deaths 19th-century Italian painters Italian male painters Painters from Naples Italian romantic painters 19th-century Italian male artists

Life and work

References

Further reading

External links