Ernesto Rayper

Ernesto Rayper (1 November 1840 – 5 August 1873) was an Italian painter and engraver. He was the founder of what came to be known as the (Gray School) of landscape painting and was associated with the Macchiaioli.

Biography He was born in Genoa. In 1859, after receiving his basic education at a Piarist school and the Collegio dei Tolomei in Siena, he enrolled in courses at the Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti and took lessons from Tammar Luxoro. Under his influence, he decided to specialize in landscapes. During 1860, he spent some time in Geneva at the workshops of Alexandre Calame.

Upon returning to Genoa, he strove to develop his own style, distinct from the current Romantic and Academic trends. He had his first exhibit at the Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts in 1862. The following year, he began promoting the concept of plein aire painting and the Scuola grigia, so-named for Rayper's avoidance of the color black, took shape.

After his death, his work became somewhat neglected until 1926, when a major exhibition was held at the Teatro Carlo Felice. Further exhibitions were held in 1938 at the Palazzo Rosso and in 1974, at his alma mater, the Accademia Ligustica; sponsored by the City of Genoa.