Artist returned with Italian manner (3)
I believe the answer is:
air
'manner' is the definition.
(air can mean someone's manner or character)
'artist returned with italian' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'with' indicates putting letters inside.
'italian' becomes 'I' (abbreviation for Italian).
'ra' in reverse letter order is 'ar'.
'ar' placed around 'i' is 'AIR'.
(Other definitions for air that I've seen before include "Simple melody's" , "Of which 78% is nitrogen" , "Tune; mien" , "character" , "Light wind; song" .)