Francesco Paolo Michetti (Tocco da Casauria [Pescara], Italy, 1851 – Francavilla al Mare, Italy, 1929)

Born in Tocco da Casauria, near Pescara, on October 2, 1851, Francesco Paolo Michetti showed a strong inclination for art from an early age. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, where he studied under Domenico Morelli. During his apprenticeship, Michetti developed a style that combined naturalism with visionary realism.

In 1872 and 1875, Michetti exhibited his works at the Paris Salon, but he achieved international fame in 1877 with the painting Corpus Domini, shown in Naples and purchased by Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany.

In addition to painting, Michetti was also a pioneer of photography, which he initially used as a tool for studying subjects from life and later embraced as an independent expressive medium.
In the 1880s, he founded an artistic circle in Francavilla al Mare, known as the Convento Michetti, which became a hub for artists and intellectuals.

In 1909, Michetti was appointed senator of the Kingdom of Italy. He continued to work and receive commissions until his death in Francavilla al Mare on March 5, 1929.

Photo UniCredit Group (Sebastiano Pellion di Persano)