Domenico Induno Italian, 1815-1878

Domenico Induno (Milan, Italy 1815 - Milan, Italy 1878)

Born in Milan in 1815, he was sent to work with goldsmith Luigi Cossa who, in 1831, convinced of his artistic talent, persuaded him to enrol at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied with Lombard sculptor Pompeo Marchesi and Italian artist and professor of painting, Luigi Sabatelli. At Brera, he also met Francesco Hayez, who had a significant influence on his artwork, spurring him towards portraiture.

While at the Academy, he received several awards and recognitions; initially realising his expression in historical subjects.

His painting naturally asserted itself as an excellence of the time for its narrative skills, classicism, well-calibrated composition and romantic pathos.

From 1837, he began to exhibit regularly in Brera. From the 1840s, he approached genre painting, a field in which he could better express his realist inclination, which became increasingly evident over the following years.

At the time, historic painting, with its courtly and classicist narrative, contrasted with genre painting, with its realist imprint, which tended to be more modern and suitable for describing the changing times. Induno, in his production, juggles both genres, demonstrating great artistic flexibility.

His faith in a united Italy saw him join the Italian Insurgence. With his brother, Gerolamo, also a painter, he took part in the 1848 Five Days riots in Milan; after this uprising failed, the brothers fled to Switzerland, in exile until 1849.

Some paintings of the time illustrate themes related to the Insurgence, a trend that diminished over the following years. A period of intense production and great recognition followed: in 1854, he was appointed art associate of the Brera Academy. In 1855, five of his paintings represented Italy at the Universal Exposition in Paris, and, finally, in 1860, he was appointed academician of the arts in Brera.

In Vienna, at the Universal Exhibition in 1873, he was awarded the gold medal.

In 1878, he took part for the last time in the Universal Exhibition in Paris.

He died a few months later, in Milan, in 1878.

Photo UniCredit Group (Sebastiano Pellion di Persano)