Russian art lovers are still not very familiar with the name Giovanni Boldini. In Europe and America, his works are highly valued, where he is considered a classic of portrait painting.

The artist of Italian origin was called a master of chic thanks to a journalist from Time magazine. The article was dedicated to the opening of a retrospective exhibition in one of the popular galleries of New York. Swish (chic) ​​is also translated from English as a rustle, a rustle. And Boldini masterfully knew how to play up women’s outfits in his paintings.

The future painter was born into the family of the artist Antonio Boldini, who had many children and worked mainly with religious subjects. It is not surprising that the father often took his children to churches and cathedrals, for which he painted the walls and domes. The future conqueror of women’s hearts became acquainted with examples of the Italian Renaissance in early childhood. Being the son of an artist and not being infected with a love for art is nonsense. Giovanni began to draw very early. Already in his teens, his preferences became clear – he was best at painting portraits.

Having made sure that his son had inherited his passion for painting, the elder Boldini decided to send Giovanni to hone his skills at the Academy of Arts in Florence. Already at the age of 19, he began to work to order.

During his studies, the younger Boldini met supporters of Macchiaiolism. This technique appeared in Florence in the mid-nineteenth century. It is based on the technique of painting with a color spot. Supporters of Macchiaiolism were convinced that the artist should not change reality, his main “tools”: shadow, light, color accent (spot). Boldini did not consider himself a fan of this teaching, but in his work he constantly resorted to painting with a light spot. This technique had a great influence on the formation of his painting style. It is especially noticeable in portraits of aristocrats.

After successfully completing the academy, the young man goes traveling, he wants to see Europe. During his travels, life brings him together with colleagues in the craft: these are famous artists, and young people who are not afraid of experiments in art. Among them are the impressionists Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas. Acquaintance with them is reflected in his own style of painting.

His large legacy is based on portraits of socialite ladies. And although he painted most of the portraits to order, this did not stop him from conducting creative experiments. For example, he learns to paint white on white or black on black. Some art critics call Boldini’s portraits kitsch. Is it so? Probably, everyone will see something different in them. Someone is a hymn to beauty and luxury, and someone is a desire to earn money and the status of a court artist.