Carlo Fornara
Born into a family of humble country people in Prestinone, in the Vigezzo Valley, in 1871, he enrolled in the local Rossetti Valentini School of Fine Arts in Santa Maria Maggiore, and was taught by Enrico Cavalli.
In 1891 he took part in the First Triennale of the Brera Academy, where he saw Divisionist works for the first time; after visiting France (1894-95) he became influenced by Neo-Impressionism. In 1897 the jury of the Third Triennale of the Brera rejected his painting En plein Air, which was however given a positive assessment by Segantini and Pellizza.
Subsequently he joined the Milan coterie of the art dealer Alberto Grubicy, who included his work in a series of exhibitions and events, national and international; he was now presented as an exponent of “ideal” divisionism along with Previati. Fornara’s association with Grubicy’s gallery guaranteed him economic security and allowed him to live in his beloved Vigezzo Valley.
His painting subsequently evolved in the direction of Post-Impressionism, though his Divisionist tendency was still often visible, if moderated by his use of fine, threadlike brushstrokes.
After 1922 he retired to his house in Prestinone, where he died in 1968.
