Francesco Hayez Painting by Paul Meijering

Realistic painting in acrylic of the Italian painter Francesco Hayez, painted by the artist Paul Meijering - the original painting is 90 x 120 cm and available for sale.

Francesco Hayez (Venice, 10 February 1791 - Milan, 21 December 1882) was a prominent Italian painter from the Romantic era.

Born into a relatively poor Venetian family, Hayez was raised by an uncle and aunt who were more affluent and had a keen interest in art. He became an apprentice painter to Francisco Magiotto at a young age and then studied at the New Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. In 1809 he won a competition of the Gallerie dell'Accademia and then studied for a year at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. He then went to Naples, where he worked with Joachim Murat. Later he moved to Milan, where he was propitiated by the writer Clara Maffei and rose to great fame. In 1850 he became director of the art gallery Pinacoteca di Brera there.

Hayez's paintings are typical of the Romantic movement of the 19th century. His early work shows influences of Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and the Nazarenes (artists), his later work is especially characteristic of the revival of classical art. He often paints grand historical and Biblical scenes, political allegories or fine portraits. Also typical is his tendency to introduce a certain sensuality into his work. A number of works (Mary Magdalene 1825, Ruth 1835) for this reason caused quite a stir at their exhibition.

Today, Hayez' work is often difficult to