John (Giovanni) Califano

American (1864-1924)

The Italian born artist, John Califano (1864-1946), began studying painting as a young man under Domenico Morelli. In 1881, he left his home in Rome to move to Chicago and eventually settled in the state of California. His realist paintings depict the California landscape as well as his homeland, and also include a variety of figurative works and still lives. Always well received by the public, Califano won a gold medal in a Naples exhibition in 1880, and was also represented by the National Academy of Design in 1897 and 1899, and the Art Institute of Chicago in 1907.