From September 29 to January 10, the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria in Perugia hosts the exhibition Volti di donna dal Museo dell’Ottocento, dedicated to the representation of the female figure in Italian painting of the second half of the nineteenth century. The itinerary features a canvas by Rubens Santoro focused on a woman depicted in contemplation, serving as an exploration of chromatic contrasts and the treatment of light. The exhibition traces the departure from academic conventions toward a direct observation of everyday life, in alignment with contemporary European Realism. Across the works on display, the female subject emerges with distinct individual and psychological clarity: Gioacchino Toma captures domestic intimacy, while Saverio Altamura investigates the expressive qualities of posture and facial features. Tuscan naturalism is conveyed in paintings by Niccolò Cannicci, accompanied by the chromatic approaches of Mosè Bianchi rooted in the Lombard-Venetian tradition. Parisian influences and dramatic chiaroscuro merge in the heavily textured work of Antonio Mancini, while the Macchiaioli movement is highlighted through pastels and portraits by Silvestro Lega portraying youthful and rural figures.

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Volti di donna dal Museo dell'Ottocento