Shadowy Impressionist

For a painter whose later life and works seemed to vaporize entirely, Girolamo Pieri Nerli made quite an impression during the 19 years he resided in Australasia. According to the Australasian Art Review of 1899, Signor Nerli (as he liked to be called despite being a marchese from an aristocratic Sienese family) brought to the colonies "the daring independence of Southern no-Continentalism," a euphemism for his signature sketchy style. In 1890 Australian painter Tom Roberts, who had just arrived back from Europe himself, professed a liking for Nerli and looked forward to exhibiting with him in Melbourne. Around the same time,...