De Nittis represents, together with Boldini and Zandomeneghi, that part of the Italian artistic 'milieu' of the second half of the 19th century, which more clearly adopted the new poetic world of French Painting. The artist went to Paris in 1867 and settled there in 1868 to marry Léontine Gruvelle, who introduced him to Zola, Alexandre Dumas fils, Manet, and Degas. He soon adopted themes typical of the Impressionists: everyday life scenes, people walking on the 'quais' of the Seine and riding at the Bois de Boulogne, cityscapes. De Nittis' etchings were all produced during his stay in Paris and were involved in the change that was taking place in the field of original etching in France: the development from a production directed mainly to an upper-class public to one conceived as pure experimentation and personal achievement. Two thirds of his whole production as an etcher is made up of women portraits.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: P. Dini and G.L. Marini, 'De Nittis, la vita, i documenti, le opere, i dipinti', 2 vols. Turin, 1990; F. Fiorani and R. Dinoia, 'De Nittis the printmaker', Rome 1999.

Notizie utili - “De Nittis e la pittura della vita moderna in Europa”, Gam – Galleria civica d’arte moderna e contemporanea di Torino. Dal 16 febbraio al 26 maggio. Orario: 9-19, chiuso lunedì. Catalogo Gam-Galleria civica Torino. A cura di Pier Giovanni Castagnoli. Sito internet: www.gamtorino.it. Ingresso: 5,16 euro (lire 10 000). Tel. 011 4429518, per viste guidate, gruppi e scuole 011 4429546-47.