Explore: Michele Gordigiani

(1830 - 1909)

Michele Gordigiani was born in Italy; the son of a musician. He studied in Florence under Luigi Mussini (1813-1888), before setting up a portrait studio in the city. Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning were painted by him when they visited Florence in 1858. Gordigiani exhibited four works in London, including three at the Royal Academy: ‘Mrs J. Buchan Telfer’ in 1867; ‘Baroness Florence De Bretton’ in 1876 and ‘Miss Aurora Lee, daughter of Sir J. C. Lee’ in 1886. When he exhibited the first, his address was recorded as simply ‘Florence’. However, for the subsequent exhibits it is listed as ‘76, Fulham Road [London]’. Gordigiani also showed one work at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1878, titled ‘The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres’.