With his experiments in the use of macchia (spots), the scenes from life were given freer rein and he moved towards a growing technical independence that Fattori applied above all to landscape painting and to themes of humble daily labor, authentic sources of inspiration.  At the age of 35, he married Settimia Vannucci in July 1860, who died of tuberculosis in 1867.  His wife’s illness forced the family to leave the unhealthy climate of Florence for Leghorn where the artist painted various portraits.  Meanwhile, the political atmosphere had changed.  The new Kingdom of Italy (1861) had not met the expectations and ideals of the Risorgimento. That bitter disappointment together with the death of Settimia had a disheartening effect on Fattori that led to a sad and negative mood from which his friendship with Diego Martelli delivered him.  Fattori stayed at Martelli’s large estate in Castiglioncello for several months and later, he went to stay there frequently and to paint the Maremma landscape.