Painting light: italian divisionism 1885-1910

The London exhibition Painting Light, Italian Divisionism, 1885-1910 is meant to celebrate the growing importance of Italian painting related to contemporary Europen Divisionism. Divisionism, in the history of Italian art, is both the natural heir of the Macchiaioli painting and an example for the Futurists. The influence of the scientifical inquiery of French Impressionists and Neo-Impressionists is also strong, in spite of the fact that Divisionism is more keen on social and political themes, and it seeks for a different balance between narrative contents and formal concerns. The event is timed to coincide with the Italian National Day, and to mark the start of the Italian Presidency of the European Union. It is the result of the collaboration of important museums, art galleries and private collections with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art.