Isidoro Farina

Isidoro Farina was born in Naples in 1857. He undertook his early studies in that city and made his debut at a young age in 1876 at the Società Promotrice di Belle Arti, with a number of graphic works. In 1881, he exhibited three further works there which suggest his initial foray into genre painting, as indicated by the titles A Moment of Vain Self-Satisfaction and Devotion.

From genre painting to landscape: the Ligurian Riviera and a lyrical luminism

The pivotal turning point in his career came in 1885 with his move to Milan, a change that also led him to embrace other genres more readily. In the stimulating Lombard milieu, in fact, Isidoro Farina began to try his hand successfully at both portraiture and landscape painting, which he loved to paint strictly from life during his travels, being particularly fascinated by the Ligurian Riviera and the area around the port of Genoa. The first results of this shift in subject matter can be seen in the works exhibited at the 1885 Promotrice in Genoa, where Scogli di S. Nazzaro and Ore di sole were shown.

Alongside his easel painting, Farina played an important role as a decorator, working on a regular basis with the renowned Richard ceramics factory. His canvases, on the other hand, characterised by a remarkable ease of execution and a constant freshness of light – particularly evident in his seascapes – enjoyed consistent acclaim amongst critics and the public in Milan and Liguria.

A brief career marked by exhibition successes

At the 1886 Genoa Promotrice, he exhibited seven works, including the seascape Portofino and the Lombard landscape Autunno, costumi brianzoli, whilst in Turin in 1887 the luminous Riviera di Levante was shown. In the same year, he took part in the 1887 Venice National Exhibition, where he distinguished himself with canvases such as Bosco, Intermezzo, Un montanaro and Cantiere Rubattino. The following year, in 1888, he took part in the exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, exhibiting the paintings Tempo grigio and Genova accigliata, whilst in 1889 he returned to exhibit in Genoa with various impressions of the city.

He exhibited regularly in the Ligurian city until 1893, presenting works no longer confined to landscape, such as Ultima ora and Porto di Genova, but also still lifes, such as Aragosta e Gamberi, Pesche and Bei garofani. He died prematurely in 1898, aged just 41, leaving behind a limited body of work but one of great lyrical intensity, influenced as much by Neapolitan naturalism as by the style of the Ligurian ‘Grey School’.

Elena Lago