Raul Viviani

Raul Viviani relocated from Florence to Milan as a teenager and in 1898, joined the Accademia di Brera. Mentored by Giuseppe Mentessi, Viviani frequented the school of Famiglia Artistica studying the nude. In 1900, still only 17 years old, Viviani began producing works for the exhibition Famiglia Artistica, where he was lauded by many critics for his strong, modern landscapes. In 1902, Viviani became secretary for the Famiglia Artistica and took great interest in the Divisionists movement. Viviani made strong friendships with Emilio Longoni and Gaetano Previati, among others. In 1912, Viviani participated in the Venice Biennale, where he caught the attention of Camillo Boito, who lavished praise for Viviani’s artistic independence and technical experimentation. It was Boito, who nominated Viviani for the Accademia d’onore di Brera. Viviani’s success grew continually and he participated in an increasing number of shows at home and abroad. Viviani showed in Rome, Turin, Naples, Monaco, Paris, Brusells, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. In 1926, Viviani embarked on his career as a critic writing for Roma and Mezzogiorno and then became the director for the Giornale dell’Arte in 1929. Viviani’s opposition to fascism inspired him to write a series of attacks on the movement and eventually forced him to take voluntary exile. In 1931, the president of Uruguay asked him to find the Accademia di Belle Arti di Montevideo. In 1937, Viviani returned to Milan continuing his artistic career but above all his role as a critic.

Painting is an art form that has spanned innumerable cultures, with artists using the medium to tell stories, explore and communicate ideas and express themselves. To bring abstract paintings, landscape paintings, still-life paintings and other original paintings into your home is to celebrate and share in the long tradition of this discipline.

When we look at paintings, particularly those that originated in the past, we learn about history, other cultures and countries of the world. Like every other work of art, paintings — whether they are contemporary creations or works that were made during the 19th century — can often help us clearly see and understand the world around us in a meaningful and interesting way.

Cave walls were the canvases for what were arguably the world’s first landscape paintings, which depict natural scenery through art. Portrait paintings and drawings, which, along with sculpture, were how someone’s appearance was recorded prior to the advent of photography, are at least as old as Ancient Egypt. In the Netherlands, landscapes were a major theme for painters as early as the 1500s. Later, artists in Greece, Rome and elsewhere created vast wall paintings to decorate stately homes, churches and tombs.

Today, creating a wall of art is a wonderful way to enhance your space, showcase beautiful pieces and tie an interior design together.

No matter your preference, whether you favor Post-Impressionist paintings, animal paintings, Surrealism, Pop art or another movement or specific period, arranging art on a blank wall allows you to evoke emotions in a room while also showing off your tastes and interests. A symmetrical wall arrangement may comprise a grid of four to six pieces or, for an odd number of works, a horizontal row. Asymmetrical arrangements, which may be small clusters of art or large, salon-style gallery walls, have a more collected and eclectic feel.

Download the 1stDibs app, which includes a handy “View on Wall” feature that allows you to see how a particular artwork will look on a particular wall, and read about how to arrange wall art. And if you’re searching for the perfect palette for your interior design project, what better place to turn than to the art world’s masters of color? 

On 1stDibs, you’ll find an expansive collection of paintings and other fine art for your home or office. Browse abstract paintings, portrait paintings, paintings by emerging artists and more today.