Francesco Hayez, born in 1791, was an Italian artist. He came from a poor family in Venice, but despite this, he was still surrounded by art. He showed a special interest in drawing from a young age and was sent to live with a better-off aunt who was married to an art dealer.
Recognizing his talent, his family sent him off to apprentice for a famous artist at the time by the name of Francesco Maggiotto, where he stayed for three years. In 1806 he enrolled at the New Academy of Fine Arts to study oil painting. In 1809 he won a painting competition at the Academy of Venice and was awarded a one-year scholarship to the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. He relocated to Milan in the mid-1830s where he lived out his days.
Hayez is known as an early adopter of the Milanese Romanticism movement. One of his favorite subjects was semi-nude women. Like many Romantic painters, many of these pieces were suggestive of oriental influences. This allowed the artist the freedom to paint scenes that would have otherwise been deemed inappropriate for the time. He felt that these pieces would be more alluring to his intended patrons.
On top of this, Hayez is also well known for his historical paintings, which he produced many of. His painting style explored many genres such as the Nazarene movement, Romanticism, and Neoclassicism. His subject matter was just as diverse, with political critique joining portraits and historical paintings in his body of work.
Since he never dated or signed his artwork, it makes it difficult for modern-day art historians to track the development of his painting style and subject matter. Nevertheless, Hayez’s work continues to grow in popularity after his death in 1882. Today his work is held in the Lichtenstein Museum in Vienna as well as in the National Gallery in London.
1. Family Portrait
‘Family portrait’ was created in 1807 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
2. A Half-Naked Man
‘A Half-Naked Man’ was created in the year 1812 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
3. Aristides
‘Aristides’ was created in 1812 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
4. Laocoon
‘Laocoon’ was created in 1812 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style showing the Trojan priest of Apollo crushed to death by snakes along with his sons.
5. Rinaldo And Armida
‘Rinaldo and Armida’ was created in 1813 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
6. Mercury Gives Paris The Apple Of Discord
‘Mercury Gives Paris the Apple of Discord’ was created in 1817 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
7. Portrait of Antoniet Vitali Sola
‘Portrait of Antoniet Vitali Sola’ was created in 1823 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
8. Carolina Zucchi (the ill)
‘Carolina Zucchi (the ill)’ was created in 1825 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
9. Penitent Mary Magdalene
‘Penitent Mary Magdalene’ was created in 1825 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style, symbolizing the eternal conflict between religious vocation and earthly desires.
10. The Last Kiss of Romeo And Juliet
‘The last kiss of Romeo and Juliet’ was created in 1823 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
11. Bathsheba
‘Bathsheba’ was created in c.1827 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.
12. Bathing Nymphs
‘Bathing nymphs’ was created in 1831 by Francesco Hayez in Romanticism style.