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Virgilio Ripari

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Virgilio Ripari (1843 – 11 April 1902)[1]) was an Italian painter, mainly depicting genre scenes of women and flowers. His style is described as a late Romantic, often depicting nuns and scene galanti (antique costume genre).

Biography

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Ripari was born in Bozzolo, but moved to Asola, Province of Mantua as an infant. He was born to a peasant family so financially constrained, that they had to place him in an orphanage. Aided by local figures, the town of Asola granted him a stipend to attend the Brera Academy, where he won a number of medals.[2] There he studied under Giuseppe Bertini and Raffaele Casnedi.[3]

In 1866, he volunteered for the Italian armies under Garibaldi, and fought in the Tyrol. After the war, he displayed at the Exhibition una prima volta and two portraits painted al vero, and a larger than life canvas: Il bagno pompeiano (The Pompeian Bath). He resided in Milan as an adult. He painted a number of paintings in oil and watercolors for the Queen of the United Kingdom. In 1872 at the Exposition of Milan, he displayed: Passeggio nel giardino; Le rose; and a portrait. In 1883 at Milan, he exhibited: Buon giorno; I fiori for the sacra; Prima neve (First Snow); and Per l'onomastico of the padrona. In 1884 at the Exposition of Turin, he displayed Peccato e preghiera. Ripari sent to the 1886 Exhibition of Milan: Studio; Venditori di frutta; Pittrici moderne; Furto innocente. To the 1887 Exposition of Venice, Ripari sent: Prima of the Scuola; Fiori per tutti (Flowers for All). At the 1889 Exposition of Fine Arts in Milan, he displayed: Dalle valli al monte; Al fonte; Amenità; and Portrait of a young Girl. The Galleria d'Arte Moderna of Milan has a number of his works, including Alla finestra (At the Window) 1850; Il mese di Maria (1875); Il getto dei fiori (1850); Linda e Peo (1850); Peccato e preghiera (1882); Ricordi (1850); Il giorno (1850); Fiori (1850).[4]

The contemporary critic, Virgilio Colombo, noted in Ripari the influence of Tranquillo Cremona, but with less iridescence and a more delicate brushstroke, and sharing more with Mosè Bianchi.[5] Later in life he focused on painting portraits.[6] A retrospective of his work and influences was held in 2018-2019 in Asola and titled VIRGILIO RIPARI. Un pittore a Milano nel secondo Ottocento.[7]

He died in Milan on 11 April 1902.

References

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