Pittura vs. quadro vs. dipinto
In Italian, pittura, quadro, and dipinto all relate to painting, but they are not interchangeable. Each word carries a specific nuance, referring to the art form as a concept, the physical framed object, or the finished artwork itself.
Pittura
B1The word pittura refers to the art of painting as a general concept, a discipline, or a specific artistic style. It can also refer to the physical substance of paint.
Mi sono iscritto a un corso di pittura ad olio.
(I enrolled in an oil painting class.)
La sua più grande passione è la pittura.
(His greatest passion is the art of painting.)
Preferisco la pittura rinascimentale a quella barocca.
(I prefer Renaissance painting to Baroque painting.)
Fai attenzione, la pittura sul cancello è ancora fresca.
(Be careful, the paint on the gate is still wet.)
Quadro
A2The word quadro indicates the physical, finished painting as an object, typically on canvas or wood and enclosed in a frame. It is the artwork you would buy and hang on a wall.
Ho appeso un nuovo quadro sopra il divano.
(I hung a new picture above the sofa.)
Quel quadro di Monet è stato venduto all'asta per una cifra record.
(That painting by Monet was sold at auction for a record sum.)
Devo scegliere una cornice adatta per questo quadro.
(I have to choose a suitable frame for this picture.)
Il museo espone una magnifica collezione di quadri fiamminghi.
(The museum displays a magnificent collection of Flemish paintings.)
Dipinto
B1The word dipinto is the result of the action of painting (dipingere). It refers to the artwork created with paint, regardless of the surface (canvas, wood, wall). It's more versatile than quadro as it can also describe a fresco.
L'Ultima Cena è un celebre dipinto murale di Leonardo.
(The Last Supper is a famous mural painting by Leonardo.)
Il restauro del dipinto antico ha rivelato i suoi colori originali.
(The restoration of the ancient painting revealed its original colors.)
Questo splendido dipinto su tela rappresenta un paesaggio marino.
(This splendid painting on canvas represents a seascape.)
In galleria è esposto un dipinto poco conosciuto di Raffaello.
(A little-known painting by Raphael is on display in the gallery.)
Summary
In short, use pittura for the art of painting, an artistic style, or the paint substance. Use quadro for the physical, framed painting you hang on a wall. Use dipinto for the finished artwork on any surface (canvas, wood, or even a wall), emphasizing the result of the creative act.