Eugenio Gignous, mountains and lake with poetry and sweetness

Prof. Francesco Carelli

Eugenio Gignous (1850 – 1906) was an Italian painter. In 1864, he begin to study at  Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan, of di Belle Arti di Brera ad he approaches the Milanese Scapigliatura, becoming friend with Tranquillo Cremona.
He dedicates himself for painting landscapes, experiencing en plein air with Achille Tominetti, with views of countryside in Lombardy and Piedmont.
About the end of 70s, he looks for a naturalistic imprint modelling from Filippo Carcano’s researches, with whom since 1897 he paints on Lake Maggiore, inaugurating a thematic repertoire of views for Verbano, Mottarone, Valley of Ossola.

Already a successful reference for painting in Lombardy, since 1887 he lives with his family in Stresa, where he frequents the lively social and cultural environment of the lake Maggiore, painting mountains and lake, often accompanied by colleagues Uberto Dell’Orto, Achille Tominetti, Achille Formis e Pompeo Mariani.
In Gignous there is poetry with sweetness. Together with Filippo Carcano, he is recognised as one of the biggest exponents of Lombard naturalism with synthesis between form and colour defining the contrasts for chiaroscuro and areas of brightness.