Giuseppe De Nittis

Trained in Naples, the Italian-born painter Giuseppe de Nittis settled in Paris in 1868. There he befriended many of the Impressionist artists, particularly Edgar Degas.

Five of De Nittis' paintings were included in the First Impressionist Exhibition of 1874. He was committed to a naturalistic art that explored the changing play of light. He frequently painted snow scenes, showing solitary figures in wintry streets or parks. He also specialised in depictions of the newly constructed areas of Paris and its suburbs. Under the influence of Japanese prints, he often left large open areas in his pictures, relegating buildings to the edges.