The Portraits of Amos Cassioli

The portraits on display date from around 1860 to 1880. Amos Cassioli, described by Pietro Estense Selvatico as “the foremost of Tuscan portraitists,” infused his works with a purist style, characterized by precise drawing that often lends the portraits a nearly photographic quality. His evolving style is also evident: from the Portrait of a Lady, marked by an intense expression and clear, sharp lines, to works like The Emilian Model and portraits of his son Giuseppe, in which Cassioli moves toward Impressionism, incorporating touches of color and short brushstrokes. This stylistic evolution culminates in the Portrait of a Young Lady, where the impressionistic influence is more pronounced, with quick brushstrokes and a subject who no longer looks directly at us but seems to engage with someone beyond our view.