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The most important artistic movement in 19th century Italy started in Florence at the "Caffe Michelangelo", meeting point for artists, scholars and intellectual eccentrics. Many of these figures, who arrived in Florence between 1855 and 1862, soon started spending time in Castiglioncello as a result of their ties with Diego Martelli, friend and patron of the Macchiaioli painters.

Romantic art

Influenced by the ideals of Romantic art, which focused on depicting the "real", they were the first to paint everyday scenes: man and his creations became only one element of the real protagonist, nature and the subjects on canvas ranged from a lady on the beach at a holiday resort to a farmer or ox. Social class and the behavior of the people depicted were no longer relevant in Macchiaioli art. Instead the atmosphere of the setting took centre stage, consisting of light and colors. Truth, character, emotions: these were the elements sought by the Macchiaioli painters in their explorations of the wild countryside of Tuscany. The term "macchia" was first used by the painters themselves; leading to the name they chose for their movement "Macchiaioli". In this sense, "stain" refers to a painting technique played out on a harmonious pattern of tones, of light and shade, based of the juxtaposition of areas of color which are used synthetically to portray forms. You can see Martelli's collection, along with other Macchiaioli works, in the Gallery of Modern Art at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence.

For more information visit

• Nuovo Archivio dei Macchiaioli
• Caffe Michelangelo