1801 – 1882
Louis (Luigi) Rubio (Rome, February 6, 1801 – Florence, August 2, 1882) was an Italian painter renowned for his works in both Neoclassical and Romantic styles. His oeuvre includes historical and mythological canvases, genre scenes, and portraits, characterized by a style reminiscent of the Troubadour genre.
Born in Rome, Rubio showed early artistic promise. He initially trained at the Academy of San Luca in Rome, where he won the Canova Prize. In 1823, he moved to the Institute of Fine Arts in Parma, where his painting “Priam at the Feet of Achilles” won him acclaim.
In 1824, Rubio’s canvas “The Samaritan” earned him the Pio Clementine Prize, gold medals, and a papal pension. He became an honorary academic at the Roman Academy in 1827. From 1827 to 1830, he worked for Count Zamoyski in Warsaw, Poland. Moving to Paris in 1830, Rubio exhibited “Paolo and Francesca” at the Paris Salon of 1833, a work noted for its detailed composition and vibrant colors.
Rubio’s “Marriage of Salvator Rosa on his Deathbed” was exhibited at the 1836 Paris Exposition, winning him a gold medal and commissions for the Museum of Versailles. His notable works from this period include a portrait of composer Louise Farrenc and paintings for the Russian Chapel and various churches in Moscow.
While in Paris, Rubio mingled with influential figures such as Harriet de Boinville and met Vera de Kolgrivoff, whom he married in 1846. Despite his talents, Rubio faced challenges in securing commissions from the French government, as noted in a letter by Claire Clairmont.
Rubio was honored by Pope Pius IX with the Order of San Silvestro and by the Kingdom of Italy with the Order of Saints Maurizio and Lazzaro. He became a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence in 1870, and his self-portrait was added to the Uffizi Gallery in 1862. He also received accolades from Sultan Abdülmecid I and painted for Tsar Alexander II after decorating the Russian church in Geneva.
Rubio passed away in Florence in 1882, leaving behind a legacy as a distinguished painter whose works bridged Neoclassicism and Romanticism, capturing historical narratives and personal likenesses with equal skill.
