THE KISS by F. HAYEZ

THE KISSby Francesco Hayez

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Francesco Hayez was an Italian painter. He is considered one of the leading artists of Romanticism in mid-19th-century Milan, and is renowned for his grand historical paintings, political allegories, and portraits.

Everyone knows the Kiss by Hayez, But not everyone knows where it is housed and what the painting made by the father of Italian Romanticism represents.

It is one of the most famous kisses in history of art.

The Kiss by Hayez is a romantic painting which, through the depiction of a couple of lovers who say goodbye, maybe for the last time, describes all hopes which grew during the Italian Risorgimento.

Meaning of THE KISS by HAYEZ

It’s a political painting and was executed in that phase of history, after the Congress of Vienna, where Italy was divided into many States but hoped to unify to become a single nation as soon as possible. In this period, some secret societies tried to reach the Unification of Italy by allying with France, which would lead to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

The Kiss was painted in this historical context and, when count Alfonso Maria Visconti di Saliceto commissioned Francesco Hayez to paint a painting which could represent hopes of the patriotic circles of creating an alliance with France, the artist painted two lovers.

The KISS by HAYEZ: description

The painting represents a couple from the Middle Ages, embracing while they kiss each other. It is among the most passionate and intense representations of a kiss in the history of Western art.

The girl leans backwards, while the man bends his left leg so as to support her, simultaneously placing a foot on the step next to him as though poised to go at any moment. The couple, though at the center of the painting, are not recognizable, as Hayez wanted the action of the kissing to be at the centre of the composition. In the left part of the canvas shadowy forms lurk in the corner to give an impression of conspiracy and danger.

The Kiss by Hayez is a metaphor that allowed the artist to not be accused of conspiracy against the Austrian Empire and giving voice to ideals of those who fought for the Unification of Italy. These two lovers, overwhelmed by passion while saying goodbye, maybe for the last time, are entrusted with all ideals typical of Romanticism. The man, kissing and caressing his lover’s face, is about to leave or escape. Maybe a battle is waiting for him. The woman doesn’t hold him back and seems to have a blind faith in what is waiting for her man.

This kiss represents the alliance between France and Italy against the Austrian Empire, which hopes that will be able to win but is also aware that only with ability and discretion would be possible to achieve the aim: the Unification of Italy.

The three versions of The Kiss by Hayez on exhibition in Milan between 2015 and 2016.

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