Giovanni Boldini

Federico Zandomeneghi

Giuseppe De Nittis

1848
upon release from prison, Raffaele De Nittis committed suicide. His children were entrusted to their paternal grandparents.

1861
after studying painting with Giambattista Calò and Dattoli, a follower of Morelli, De Nittis applied for admission to the Naples Institute of Fine Arts in December.

1862
at the Institute he studied with Giuseppe Mancinelli and Gabriele Smargiassi.

1863
expelled from the Institute for poor conduct.

1864
in Naples he met the sculptor Adriano Cecioni with whom he and Marco De Gregorio and Federico Rossano founded the so-called "School of Resina", ironically termed the "Republic of Portici" by Domenico Morelli. His first dated picture is from this year. He exhibited at the third Naples Promotrice with various works, among which were "Pianura nei dintorni di Barletta" and " Marina".

1866
painted "Casale nei dintorni di Napoli", now in the Capodimonte Museum, Naples.

1867
traveled to Florence where he was received with acclaim, especially by the Macchiaioli artists. In the summer he traveled on to Paris where the painter Brandon, whom he had met in Florence, introduced him to the art dealer Goupil, who bought several of his works.

1868
in the autumn he returned in Paris where he signed a contract with Goupil and the german art dealer Reitlinger. To satisfy their requests, he painted costume scenes.

1869
married Léontine Gruville. He exhibited "Visita all'antiquario" and "Bosco in Puglia" at the Salon.

1870
exhibited at the Salon, but the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war forced him to return to Italy.

1871
after a brief stay in Campania, he returned to Paris where he signed an exclusive contract with Goupil.

1872
at the Salon he reaped huge success with "Strada da Brindisi a Barletta". In the spring he traveled to Naples, where he painted a series depicting the eruption of Vesuvius for Goupil, who encouraged him to concentrate on popular subjects that could be readily sold. His son, Jacques, was born.

1873
in the winter he returned to Paris and started on a series of Paris city scenes. He met Edgar Degas.

1874
invited by Degas to take part in the first exhibition of the Impressionists at the studio of the photographer Nadar, he submitted five works, despite Goupil's attempts to dissuade him from taking part in activities outside the "official" art world. Before the opening, De Nittis, feeling caught between the demands of his art dealer and those of his fellow exhibiting artists, traveled to London, where he met Mr. Marsdew and the banker Kaye Knowles, who bought many of his pictures. From the earnings on these sales De Nittis decided to break his contract with Goupil. After his return to Paris in the summer, he began to paint a series of city views of Paris.

1875
traveled to London, then returned to Naples where he resumed friendly ties with Dalbono, De Gregorio and Rossano.

1876
in March he exhibited in a one-man show at the Cercle des Mirlitons. In April he exhibited "Place des Pyramides", among other paintings, at the Salon. From spring to early summer he was again in London where he executed "Trafalgar Square", "Waterloo Bridge" and "The National Gallery".

1877
invited by Knowles, he visited Edinburgh. He exhibited at the Paris Salon.

1878
submitted twelve works for the Paris Universal Exposition. He received a medal and was nominated for membership in the Legion of Honor. Degas criticized him for accepting these awards.

1879
traveled between London, Paris and Naples.

1880
exhibited at the Turin National Exposition, but his works were met with cool reception.

1881
exhibited pastels at the Cercle des Mirlitons.

1882
in London he formed friendly ties with James Tissot and Bastien-Lepage. First show at the Georges Petit Gallery.

1883
a second show at the Georges Petit Gallery. The Musée du Luxembourg bought his "Les ruines des Tuileries". He returned to Naples. Due to poor health, he was unable to paint during his stay in Italy.

1884
on his return to Paris, he exhibited three works at the Salon. He painted "Sull'amaca", his last work. On 21 August he died of a cerebral hemorrhage at St-Germain-en-Laye.