Artist
Ippolito Caffi
Ippolito Caffi prints bring the lights, crowds and atmosphere of nineteenth-century Venice and Rome into your home. Caffi updated the Venetian view painting of Canaletto with new viewpoints, moonlit and lamplit night scenes, snow, fog and even an eclipse, and his candlelit Roman carnival became...Read more
Ippolito Caffi prints bring the lights, crowds and atmosphere of nineteenth-century Venice and Rome into your home. Caffi updated the Venetian view painting of Canaletto with new viewpoints, moonlit and lamplit night scenes, snow, fog and even an eclipse, and his candlelit Roman carnival became one of the most popular pictures of its day. Our collection of fine art prints includes his views of Venice, Rome, Nice and Constantinople, festivals and drawings.
About Ippolito Caffi
Ippolito Caffi was born in Belluno on 16 October 1809. He trained in Belluno and in Padua with his cousin Pietro Paoletti, then studied at the Venice Academy of Fine Arts from 1827 to 1831, where he won prizes for his views. In 1832 he moved to Rome and quickly became famous as a view painter, publishing a textbook on perspective in 1835.
His Last Hour of Carnival in Rome (The Candles) of 1837 was a huge success when shown in Venice, and he painted 42 replicas. His Carnival at Venice caused a sensation in Paris in 1846. He travelled in Italy, the East in 1843–1844 and around Europe in the 1850s, filling sketchbooks, and received commissions for paintings and frescoes across Italy.
A fervent patriot, Caffi joined the revolution in Venice in 1848 and had to withdraw to Piedmont, and he painted many episodes of the Risorgimento, such as the arrival of Victor Emmanuel II in Naples. Hoping to paint the first battle of the new Italian navy, he sailed on the Re d'Italia, and drowned when it was sunk at the Battle of Lissa on 20 July 1866.
Style and Subjects
Caffi's views are about light and atmosphere. He chose fresh viewpoints, wide stage-like spaces and tiny figures that become sparks of light and colour, and he loved the effects of particular moments: moonlight, lamplight, fireworks, snow, fog and the strange light of an eclipse.
His Venice and Rome are both grand and lively, with festivals, carnivals and processions, while his drawings of ancient monuments show his precise command of perspective.
Famous Works
- The Last Hour of Carnival in Rome (The Candles) (1837), Ca' Pesaro, Venice. Crowds on the Corso as thousands of candles flicker, his most famous work.
- Snow and Fog on the Grand Canal (1840), Ca' Pesaro, Venice. Venice muffled in winter mist.
- Nocturnal Celebrations in Via Eugenia, Venice (1841), Revoltella Museum, Trieste. A festive night lit by lamps and lanterns.
- The Eclipse of the Sun in Venice, July 6, 1842 (1842). Crowds watch the sky darken over the lagoon.
- The Parthenon (1843), Ca' Pesaro, Venice. The ruined temple, painted on his journey to the East.
- Venice in the Snow (1850), Revoltella Museum, Trieste. Veiled light and heavy air over a snowy city.
- Arrival of Victor Emmanuel II in Naples (1860–1861), Ca' Pesaro, Venice. A Risorgimento scene of the king's entry into Naples.
Decorating with Caffi Prints
Caffi's night scenes and festivals bring a magical glow to living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms, especially in rooms with deep blues and warm lighting. A print such as A Venetian Gala Night looks wonderful in a dark or gilt frame.
His daytime views of Rome and Venice, such as The Pantheon, Rome, suit hallways, studies and any room for lovers of Italy. The architectural drawings make a refined group for a home office.
FAQ
What is Ippolito Caffi's most famous painting?
The Last Hour of Carnival in Rome (The Candles), painted in 1837, is his most famous work. It was so popular that he painted 42 replicas.
How did Caffi change Venetian view painting?
He built on Canaletto's tradition but chose new viewpoints and became fascinated by night scenes, lamplight and moonlight, weather and unusual events such as eclipses and balloon flights.
How did Ippolito Caffi die?
He drowned on 20 July 1866 when the Italian ship Re d'Italia, on which he was travelling to record the battle, was sunk by the Austrian navy at the Battle of Lissa.
Was Caffi involved in Italian politics?
Yes. He was a fervent patriot who joined the revolution in Venice in 1848 and painted many episodes of the Risorgimento, Italy's struggle for unification.
Where can I see Caffi's paintings?
Works are in Ca' Pesaro, Ca' Rezzonico and the Querini Stampalia in Venice, the Revoltella Museum in Trieste, the Museo di Roma and the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.
Related Artists
- Canaletto: the great Venetian view painter whose tradition he renewed
- Francesco Guardi: earlier painter of Venetian festivals and atmosphere
- Giuseppe Bernardino Bison: Venetian painter of views and capriccios of the generation before
