The Macchiaioli

The exhibition The Macchiaioli marks a fundamental moment in the Milanese cultural scene, offering for the first time in Milan a major retrospective dedicated to one of the most revolutionary artistic movements of the’Italian 19th century. With over 100 works from leading national museums, the exhibition reconstructs the artistic adventure of protagonists such as Giovanni Fattori, Silvestro Lega e Telemaco Signorini, who through the “macchia” - the innovative use of light and colour - radically transformed the painting of their time.

This exhibition is not only an aesthetic tribute, but also a journey through the cultural and civil history of Italy, closely intertwined with the events of the Risorgimento. The exhibition, curated by Francesca Dini, Elisabetta Matteucci e Fernando Mazzocca, is the result of the most recent research on the movement and emphasises the contribution of the Macchiaioli to the formation of national artistic identity.

Included in the cultural programme of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the initiative enjoys the prestigious collaboration of the’Matteucci Institute of Viareggio. The exhibition, produced by Royal Palace, 24 ORE Culture - 24 ORE Group e Civita Exhibitions and Museums, represents a unique opportunity to rediscover the visual and ideological legacy of a group of artists who left a profound mark on the history of the’modern Italian art.