Pietro Morgari Explained

Pietro Morgari (1852, Turin  - 1885, London) was an Italian painter, primarily of portraits.

Biography

He studied at the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts of Turin, where his father was a professor of ornamentation. At the academy, he was also mentored by Andrea Gastaldi and Enrico Gamba. Pietro was born to a family of painters. Pietro's father, Rodolfo (1827 - 1909) was a prominent painter in Turin. Rodolfo's brother, and Pietro's uncle, Paolo Emilio Morgari (1815-1882) was also a painter. Rodolfo's father was Giuseppe Morgari (1788-1847). Paolo Emilio had three children Luigi (1857-1935) and Beatrice (1858-1936), both painters, and Oddino (1865-1944), a journalist and politician.

In 1880 at the Accademia, he exhibited, Violazione di confini; depicting a poignant encounter of a stallion and a mare with colt. The painting was reproduced by L'illustrazione Italiana, published by the Fratelli Treves. He also painted: L'ultima cacciata del Conde di Monterosso. At Milan, in 1881, he exhibited: Desolation, in 1883 again at Milan, he exhibited: May. In 1883 at Rome, he displayed Dolor, and in 1884 at Turin: Caccia alla volpe and Idillio. Other works include Attori girovaghi.[1]

He collaborated with Tommaso Juglaris in many commissions for the studio of his father Rodolfo and his uncle Paolo Emilio. In 1871, after a physical argument with Pietro, Juglaris left the Morgari employment. He joined the society of Acquafortisti (watercolorists) in 1874. In 1878 at Paris, he had a reconciliation with Juglaris.

He moved to London in 1883 and committed suicide there two years later, possibly as the result of a frustrated love affair.[2]

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=Zz0bAAAAYAAJ Dizionario degli Artisti Italiani Viventi: pittori, scultori, e Architetti.
  2. http://www.artepiemonte.it Arte Piemonte website