Giovanni Boldini was an Italian painter best known for his realistic portraits and signature swirling brushstrokes. Like his contemporary John Singer Sargent, Boldini often depicted high society figures of Europe and England in glamorous settings, such as the pearl-laden young opera singer in Portrait of Lina Cavalieri (1901). Born on December 31, 1842 in Ferrara, Italy, he went on to study painting in Florence and became influenced by the Macchiaioli group—landscape painters who combined Realist and Impressionist techniques. Boldini went on to live as an established portraitist in London before moving permanently to Paris in 1872, where he befriended artists such as Edgar Degas. Boldini died on July 11, 1931 in Paris, France. Today, his works...