Giuseppe de Nittis (1846-1884) Italian artist, although he spent most of his life in France. His paintings are known for merging two art styles: impressionism and salon art. Associated with artists such as Degas and Manet, he is considered among the most important Italian painters of Paris of his time. De Nittis was born in the small town of Barletta, in Puglia. As a teenager, he was enrolled in one of the most prestigious schools in Naples, the Instituto di Belle Arti. However, he found it difficult to submit to authority and in 1863 he was expelled, an event which effectively launched his solo career. In his early twenties, he went to live in Paris, after which he made a living by painting commercial art. In 1884, he died at the age of 38.
De Nittis was known for his masterful command of light and shadow, with his Impressionist background contributing to the success of his striking landscape paintings. He was able to depict a wide range of weather conditions, allowing him to paint London fogs and Italian sunshine with equal success. De Nittis was, with Degas and Manet, among the first painters to use pastels on a large scale. In his later career, de Nittis was particularly bold with his approach to both layout and composition.
De Nittis' first notable paintings were landscapes of Mount Vesuvius, which he produced around 1870, but most of his famous artworks date from after he had escaped from his business contract. Lui gained considerable attention in 1874 for his lui painting Che Freddo (meaning "freezing"), which depicts three elderly women taking a clearly reluctant child for a stroll along a beach in stormy weather. De Nittis also had some success with pastel portraits of famous Parisians, including the writer Zola and his fellow artist Manet.
Investment value ⭐️⭐️⭐️ It depends very much on the type and quality of the work. Few works have recently passed on the auction market and even insignificant ones that remain unsold for the most part. Often these are rather gloomy Apulian or Campanian landscapes as well as certain portraits. De Nittis, on the other hand, is highly appreciated by collectors for his works from the French "bohemian" period where he skilfully depicts the Parisian bourgeoisie with a decidedly Italian trait.
How much is his work worth?
Some awards that can better illustrate how over time the choice of works created during the period he lived in France prevails, where his link with impressionism prevails.
Clearing price: €10.000 Price including expenses: €12.500 Estimate: €9.000 – €10.000 Il Ponte Casa D'aste Srl, 22/05/2019 Milan, Italy. Signed lower left.
Clearing price: €22.627 (£20.000) Price including charges: €28.283 (£25.000)Estimate: €33.940 – €45.254 (£30.000 – £40.000)Christie's , 12/07/2018London, United Kingdom
Signed “De Nittis” lower left. Notes: Dini-Marini, I, 627Origin: A. Sommaruga, Paris. Acquired from the above by the grand-father of the present owner, 1929. And then by descent to the present owner.
Clearing price: €85.000 Estimate: €22.000 – €28.000 Farsetti, 28/10/2017Prato PO, Italy
Signed lower rightOrigin: A. Sommaruga Collection, Paris; E. Bestetti Collection, Milan; Private collection
Clearing price: €515.565 (£450.000)Price including charges: €628.702 (£548.750)Estimate: €572.850 – €801.990 (£500.000 – £700.000)Sotheby's, 06/06/2017London, United Kingdom
Signed and dated “De Nittis 75” lower left Notes: Pittaluga-Piceni 319 ; Dini-Marini, I, 574Origin: John Glas Sandeman (acquired by 1876, probably from the above. JG Sandeman, 1836-1921, was a soldier and collector, who also owned one of Gustave Courbet's finest still lifes, Apples, Pears and Primroses on a Table, now in the North Simon Foundation in Exposure: Glasgow, International Exhibition, 1888, no. 828.
Clearing price: €211.086 (£180.000) Price including charges: €256.234 (£218.500) Estimate: €211.086 – €257.994 (£180.000 – £220.000) Christie's , 12/07/2016London, United Kingdom
Signed and dated “de Nittis 75” lower right Notes: Dini-Marini, I, 542.
Clearing price: €55.000 Price including charges: €68.750 Estimate: €55.000 – €70.000 Pandolfini Casa d'Aste, 19/04/2016 Florence, Italy. Signed dated -79.
Clearing price: €253.500 Price including charges: €312.500 Estimate: €250.000 – €300.000 Pandolfini Casa d'Aste, 01/10/2015 Florence, Italy . Signed dated -74 lower rightNotes: Pica p.102.
Clearing price: €355.932 ($380.000) Price including charges: €393.866 ($420.500) Estimate: €468.331 – €655.664 ($500.000 – $700.000 ) Sotheby's, 05/05/1999New York, United States
Signed dated -74 lower right.
Clearing price: €453.878 (£370.000) Price including charges: €531.466 (£433.250) Estimate: €147.203 – €220.805 (£120.000 – £180.000) Sotheby's, 12/11/2008London, United Kingdom . Signed and dated “De Nittis 74” lower left.
Cover artwork: Giuseppe De Nittis, Breakfast in the garden (1883–1884; oil on canvas, 81 x 117 cm; Barletta, Pinacoteca Giuseppe De Nittis)
