Raffaello Sorbi (Italian, 1844-1931)

Raffaelo Sorbi is revered by many as one of the most important Italian painters to emerge in the nineteenth century. Studying at the Florence Academy, he began his career by painting sun-lit, dappled landscapes, executed in the style of his fellow Florentines and forebears - Macchiaiolo artists such as Odoardo Borrani, Telemaco Signorini and Giovanni Fattori. These artists were influenced by scientific discoveries about the properties of light which were being made at the time, and the movement of which they were the standard-bearers advocated a continuous contrast of colours in their works, placing special emphasis on mood and light.
The influence of the Macchiaiolo movement can be seen in the present work. The scene depicts an evening walk set in the environs of Florence, possibly Fiesole.