Oration (The prayer)

Born in Naples as the son of Vincenzo Romano, an interior painter, Giuseppe Abbati was an important 19th-century painter. He studied at the Fine Arts Academy of Venice and later joined the Macchiaioli group in Florence, abandoning academic rigour. He was a central figure in the Macchiaioli, a group of Italian painters who were the precursors to Impressionism. Although he had a tragically short life, his name stands among those who laid the foundation of modern Italian art.  Abbati stood against the traditional academy rules by adapting the ‘macchia’ (spot/patch) technique. This technique uses bold colors and strong light-dark contrasts, known as chiaroscuro. It builds structure without relying on the rigid lines taught in traditional art schools. He became a master of ‘threshold’ paintings, which depict the luminous light seen from an interior space looking outside. He provides an exceptional depiction of the dramatic effect of light on architectural structures. His paintings embody a peaceful, balanced, and serene atmosphere, where you can almost feel the stillness of the space, a quality often referred to as ‘geometrical science’ by artists. Abbati’s Oration (The prayer) held a pivotal space in his career and the development of the Macchiaioli movement. The painting depicts Teresa Fabbrini, wife of Diego Martelli, an art critic and supporter of the Macchiaioli group. This young woman is enlightened with soft light flowing through a window, highlighting the woman as the focal point of the painting. We can see the intense effect of chiaroscuro in the drapes of the woman’s dress, almost making the dress real and touchable. The details that we see vanish as our eyes move into the shadows of the background. Giuseppe gifted this painting to Teresa as an act of friendship.