Andrea Markò (1824-1895) - Paesaggio

Andrea Markò (Vienna, 1824 – Viareggio, 1895), Landscape, tempera on paper, the sole work measures 33x14 cm, signed bottom right. Excellent condition in a modern gilt frame.

Born in Vienna in 1824, Andrea Markó received his first training from his father, the renowned Károly Markó the Elder, and refined his skills at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna under Carl Rahl. Following in the footsteps of his father and brother Carlo the Younger, he settled in Italy, choosing Florence as his operational base. His career was international and prolific: he traveled extensively throughout Europe, documenting not only Italian landscapes but also the remote lands of Russia.
His historical importance lies chiefly in his contribution to the birth of the School of Staggia. Together with his brother Carlo and Serafino De Tivoli, Markó began to depict the Sienese countryside with an innovative approach, paving the way for the Macchiaioli movement. Recognized as a master of his time, he received prestigious awards at the Florence Exhibition (1860) and at the Vienna International Exhibition (1873). He was appointed professor at the academies of Florence, Urbino, and Milan, as well as a member of the Brussels Society of Watercolorists. He died in Viareggio in 1895.

Markó’s work is distinguished by a wise use of earth-toned hues and by the ability to render expansive landscapes animated by tiny human or animal figures, which give the scenes a sense of depth and epic breadth. His style represents a fascinating transition between the classical “ideal” landscape and the new plein air painting of the macchia, more attentive to atmospheric truth and to the natural data captured en plein air. His production is extremely varied: from dramatic works to snowy views of Russia, to the famous scenes of the Tuscan Maremma. His canvases are characterized by a meticulous technique that never sacrifices the rendering of light, making his paintings highly sought after by European and American collectors. Markó possessed the rare capacity to ennoble the rural landscape, transforming views of groves or valleys into compositions of great academic rigor and poetic quality, acting as a cultural bridge between the Viennese academic tradition and Italian modernity.