Federico Zandomeneghi

The Italian painter Federico Zandomeneghi, born in Venice and deceased in Paris, developed a career spanning the Florentine Macchiaioli scene and the Parisian milieu, which he joined in 1874 and where he lived until the end of his life. He left Venice in 1859, in part to avoid Austrian conscription, and joined the Tuscan volunteers in Modena during the Second Italian War of Independence. After arriving in Florence in 1862, he frequented the Macchiaioli at the Caffè Michelangiolo and formed lasting ties, notably with Diego Martelli. In June 1874, he went to Paris to visit the Salon and did not return to Italy thereafter. His mother and sister joined him in 1879; he maintained his ties with Florence through correspondence.

Study from nature and attention to the effects of light occupy a central place in his practice, which he positioned against academicism. The Palazzo Pretorio in Florence, painted in 1865 and held at Ca’ Pesaro, bears witness to his studies of Florentine architecture undertaken with Giuseppe Abbati. Impressions of Rome, made in 1872 and held at the Pinacoteca di Brera, were purchased by the Ministry of Public Instruction and awarded a prize at the Vienna World’s Fair in 1873. With Honeymoon and Le Moulin de la Galette, both dated 1878, his repertoire expanded to include Parisian subjects; the former is now held at the Gallery of Modern Art in the Pitti Palace. At the Café, dated 1885 and held at the Francesco Federico Cerruti Foundation in Rivoli, is among his earliest experiments with pastel.

In 1894, a contract offered by Paul Durand-Ruel enabled him to leave his work as a fashion illustrator. The art dealer devoted solo exhibitions to him in 1893, 1897 and 1903. In 1914, a room was dedicated to him at the 11th Venice Biennale, following the intervention of Vittorio Pica and Ugo Ojetti.

Works recorded at auction

Koller

Au théâtre. Circa 1900.

Pastel

Original catalogue wording

Au théâtre. Circa 1900.
pastel

Date to be documented

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

View the lot at the auction house ↗