E. Gordigiani. Anno 1947. Still life with sea bream, red mullets and diospyro.

The painting "Large Still Life with Diospyros and Fish" by Edoardo Gordigiani, executed in oil on canvas, is a captivating still life that unmistakably evokes the winter atmosphere. Created in 1947 in Florence, this painting features a composition including cauliflower, diospyros (the typical fruit ripe in Florence between December and early January), and a variety of fish including a large sea bream and red mullets, often caught in the waters around Livorno and beloved in Tuscan cuisine.

The representation of fruit, vegetables, and fish exhibits characteristics that hark back to Gordigiani's early influence from Cézanne in his youth. It highlights a material, voluminous painting style full of energy and color, showcasing the artist's ability to adopt and reinterpret stylistic elements from previous masters.

The painting is signed and dated in the top right corner, confirming the authenticity and historical significance of this artwork. Gordigiani's technical mastery is evident in the rendering of details, the vibrancy of colors, and the harmonious arrangement of objects on the canvas, imparting a valuable combination of realism and artistic innovation.

About Artist:

Edoardo Gordigiani was born in Florence on January 18, 1866, from the painter Michele and Gabriella Coujère. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, where he was influenced by Giovanni Fattori, Augusto Rivalta, and Giuseppe Ciaranfi. He traveled to Paris several times, where he admired the impressionist painters, especially Cézanne. He also visited New York, where he painted a portrait of the actress Eleonora Duse. He returned to Italy in 1900 and settled in Settignano, near Florence. His painting style became more personal and emotional, based on his impressions of nature and light. He exhibited his works in various national and international exhibitions, receiving acclaim and awards. He died in Popolano di Marradi, in the Mugello region, on January 30, 1961.

Gordigiani participated in many collective and individual exhibitions, both in Italy and abroad. Among the most important, we can mention:

- The **Florentine Promoter** of 1880, where he displayed the painting *Snowfall*, which was not appreciated by the critics.
- The **Durand Ruel Gallery** in Paris in 1895, where he presented the portrait of the actress **Eleonora Duse**, which had a great success.
- The **Annual Exhibition of New York** in 1896, where he showed the same portrait again.
- The **Italian secessionist movement** between 1900 and 1915, where he exhibited his works of landscape and still life.
- The **solo exhibition at Palazzo Antinori** in Florence in 1915, where he showed his most recent works.
- The **Florentine Exhibition** of 1937 in via Ricasoli, where he sold his entire production.
- The **International Exhibition of Paris** of 1939, where he obtained the **gold medal**.

Gordigiani's style was influenced by various artists and currents, such as:

- His father **Michele Gordigiani**, a painter of classical inspiration and famous portraitist.
- His teacher **Giovanni Fattori**, a representative of the macchiaioli school, who taught him the use of color and light.
- The **French impressionists**, especially **Cézanne**, whom he met during his trips to Paris and who transmitted him the search for form and structure.
- His friend **Alfredo Müller**, a post-impressionist painter, with whom he shared the studio in Florence.

Gordigiani developed a personal and emotional painting, based on his impressions of nature and light, with touches of lively and harmonious color.