Ippolito Caffi

Ippolito Caffi was an Italian painter known for his landscapes of Italy, and in particular of Venice, Rome and Naples, which he intended for the amateurs of the Grand Tour. Caffi first trained in his hometown, then in Padua and finally at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. He settled in Rome in 1832 where he built a fine reputation and later returned to Venice. A romantic figure, Caffi painted views of Italy with particular lighting effects, appreciating night scenes or bright sunny days. He also depicted unusual events such as eclipses or balloon flights. The artist published a book on perspective with Antonio Bianchini in 1835, Lezioni di prospettiva pratica. Caffi was also a great adventurer and a fervent patriot. He died in 1866 at the Battle of Lissa while fighting for Italian independence.