PAINTINGS ONLINE | ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY

Portrait of a Lady, 1892

Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right. French artist André Chabellard made a name for himself as a portrait painter, both popular and noble. His figures are set in well-defined settings, as in this portrait of a lady seated in her beautifully furnished living room. The execution is remarkable, with chromatic effects and light and shadow that highlight the figure in the foreground and blend into the surrounding elements. The work is presented in a mid-20th-century gilded frame (slight losses on the left).

Motif in Burano 1967

Oil on canvas. Signed lower right. Title on the back, stamp of Galleria Bolzani, Milan, and the artist's studio address. The Venetian painter Eugenio Polesello devoted himself primarily to landscapes, which he executed with clear tones and simple color schemes, always reminiscent of his Venetian training. Framed.

Tempera on pith paper. Chinese, Canton, Qing dynasty, ca. 1860. A collection of twenty-eight paintings depicting Chinese courtiers, scholars, and merchants. Originally kept in an album, they are presented here in a beautiful frame decorated with embroidered floral fabrics. Pith paper is a thin, translucent material derived from the pith of the Tetrapanax papyrifer tree, or "pith plant," native to China and Taiwan. Pith paper entered painting to meet the growing demand for small, inexpensive, and easily transportable souvenirs following the massive growth of trade with China in the first quarter of the 19th century. Because many were sold in albums and thus protected from light, they retain their vibrant colors even today.

Sketches for Aida

Mixed media on paper. Seven signed and dated sketches, and, at the top, a reproduction of the artist's signature. These are works by the prominent Italian painter Remo Brindisi, whose painting, based on a descriptive and realistic approach in his early works, added expressionist nuances in his later works, giving rise to his own neo-figurative language. His work is always imbued with social and political intentions. Brindisi also worked as a sculptor, illustrator, writer, set designer, and cultural curator. From a private collection in Milan. His collaboration on the grandiose sets and costumes for the 1974 production of Aida at the Verona Arena was particularly noteworthy. A series of seven signed and dated sketches from this work is presented here. Framed

Oil on walnut panel. The painting follows early 16th-century Tuscan models (for example, the pictorial style of Domenico Puligo), but is a slightly later production and by a weaker hand, typical of "peripheral"production. The absolutely traditional subject features the Madonna breastfeeding the Baby Jesus, framed by a curtain; the infant, sucking at his mother's breast, looks toward the viewer, while the mother gazes tenderly at her son. The monogram CP appears on the back of the panel, likely indicating the artist. The panel has several small paint losses.

Landscape with Flock and Shepherds

Oil on canvas. Signed lower left. This is likely Achille Dovera's largest work, presumably intended for an important patron. A small preparatory sketch on wood depicting the same scene has been sold on the market. In the center of the foreground, the work features a large flock of sheep walking along a path, accompanied by several shepherds. The animals emerge, enveloped in a great cloud of dust, from a passage through lush vegetation, in a flat countryside against the backdrop of mountain peaks. The Milanese painter Achille Dovera is considered a leading exponent of 19th-century naturalist and genre painting. A landscape painter, Dovera formally maintains a connection with phenomenal reality, which he reproduces with precision, even though color and light play a fundamental role; his rapid, moving brushstrokes lend freshness and immediacy to the scene without disrupting the forms. This large painting is presented in a beautiful, contemporary gilded wooden frame.

Oil on canvas. Northern Italian school, early 18th century. A landscape of rocky hills features a village of turreted buildings, rising near the seashore, visible in the background on the right. In the foreground, along a small coastal inlet, popular life is bustling, with numerous figures engaged in various activities. The painting shows signs of previous restoration and relining; the crack is currently well-defined, but the color is still intact. The painting is presented in an antique frame, with minor losses.

Oil on chestnut panel. Central European school, 16th century. The traditional scene shows the Baby Jesus, in the arms of his Mother, with whom he exchanges a tender gaze, preparing to slip the wedding ring onto the finger of Catherine of Alexandria, symbolizing the mystical marriage the young saint desired to enter into with the Divine Child. The saint is depicted, as per her customary iconography, wearing a crown and regal robes and jewels, to emphasize her princely origins. The painting is likely the work of a Flemish artist inspired by Italian models of the 15th and 16th centuries. The panel shows signs of previous restoration.

Multiplo in Feltro 1974

Collage of felt fragments on panel. Signed and dated on the back, with serial number no. 28/75. Dorazio paints abstract-geometric paintings, developing various forms over the years: after an initial production of monochromatic works, he introduced color in the early 1960s, creating geometric compositions on large, free-form patterns, with layers of flat colors. From the second half of the 1960s, he worked on dynamic formal situations enclosed in horizontal grids; from the 1970s, he thickened the texture with minimal, still horizontal, lines of color and line, using various materials. Framed.

Figure in Landscape 1920

Oil on canvas. Signature, date, and location (Venice) at lower left. Work by the Venetian artist Giovanni Caldana, who established himself as a portraitist. Presented here is a portrait of a man in walking attire against the backdrop of Alpine mountain slopes. The work is presented in a period frame.

Big New Year's Eve Party 1960

Mixed media on paper. Signed and dated lower right. A humorous and ironic presentation of the menu for the 1960 New Year's Eve party, by the renowned Russian set designer, painter, and illustrator Nicola Benois, who was the chief set designer at Milan's Teatro Alla Scala from 1935. The work includes a photo of a thank-you note that accompanied the piece, addressed to the friend with whom the artist shared the party. Framed work.

The Man in the Kitchen

Mixed media on paper. Signed lower center. The renowned Russian set designer, painter, and illustrator Nicola Benois, who was the chief set designer at Milan's Teatro Alla Scala from 1935, contributed some of his drawings in 1977 to illustrate Francesco de' Rogati's book, "La cucina dell' uomo solo" (SM editore, 1977). The original drawing, which later served as the cover illustration for the text, printed in a smaller format, is shown here. Framed.

The Man in the Kitchen

Mixed media on paper. Signed lower center. The renowned Russian set designer, painter, and illustrator Nicola Benois, who was the chief set designer at Milan's Teatro alla Scala from 1935, contributed some of his drawings in 1977 to illustrate Francesco de' Rogati's book, "La cucina dell'uomo solo" (SM editore, 1977). Presented here is an original drawing, which was later used as an illustration for the text, printed in a smaller format. Framed.

Priests with Demon 1968

Marker on paper. Signed and dated lower right. A greeting card from the artist, autographed by the artist, is attached below the drawing. Known as "the painter of dreams" Gianfilippo Usellini uses his art to narrate episodes of everyday life and, above all, childhood memories. His work is characterized by simple colors and forms, yet rendered with an ironic, suspended language that, while drawing on fifteenth-century art, translates into magical, suspended, surreal, fairytale-like atmospheres. His favorite themes have always been "libraries, porticos, courtyards, nuns, priests, children, cardinals, judges, mermaids, dogs, cats, lovers"...everything and everyone, he said, because "they are the image of modern man." Framed.

The Man in the Kitchen

Mixed media on paper. Signed lower center. The renowned Russian set designer, painter, and illustrator Nicola Benois, who was the chief set designer at Milan's Teatro Alla Scala from 1935, contributed some of his drawings in 1977 to illustrate Francesco de' Rogati's book,"La cucina dell' uomo solo" (SM editore, 1977). Presented here is an original drawing, which was later used as an illustration for the text, printed in a smaller format. Framed.

Sketch

Pencil on paper. Signed lower right. Emilio Scanavino, a painter and sculptor originally from Genoa, began his career as a figurative artist, then developed post-cubist characteristics into his work, with forms that gradually became more stylized until they completely dissolved in the early 1950s. Framed.

Sketch for the "Aida" 1974

Charcoal on paper. Signed and dated lower right, with the name of the sitter. Accompanied by a photo certificate from the General Catalogue and Archive of the artist's works. This work is by the prominent Italian painter Remo Brindisi, whose painting, based on a descriptive and realistic approach in his early works, added expressionist nuances in his later works, giving rise to his own neo-figurative language. His work is always imbued with social and political intentions. Brindisi also worked as a sculptor, illustrator, writer, set designer, and cultural curator. His collaboration on the grandiose sets and costumes for the 1974 production of Aida at the Verona Arena was particularly noteworthy, a sketch of which is presented here. The work is presented framed.

Sketches for "Aida" 1974

Charcoal on paper. Signed and dated lower right, with the name of the sitter (for Amneris). Accompanied by a photo-certificate from the General Catalogue and Archive of the artist's works. This work is by the prominent Italian painter Remo Brindisi, whose painting, based on a descriptive and realistic approach in his early works, added expressionist nuances in his later works, giving rise to his own neo-figurative language. His work is always imbued with social and political intentions. Brindisi also worked as a sculptor, illustrator, writer, set designer, and cultural curator. His collaboration on the grandiose sets and costumes for the 1974 production of Aida at the Verona Arena was particularly noteworthy; a sketch for Princess Amneris is presented here. The work is presented in a frame.

Sketch for the costumes of "Aida", 1974

Charcoal on paper. Signed and dated lower right, with the name of the character (the King in Act I). Accompanied by a photo-certificate from the General Catalogue and Archive of the artist's works. It is the work of the prominent Italian painter Remo Brindisi, whose painting, based on a descriptive and realistic approach in his early works, added expressionist nuances in his later works, giving rise to his own neo-figurative language. His work is always imbued with social and political intentions. Brindisi also worked as a sculptor, illustrator, writer, set designer, and cultural curator. His collaboration on the grandiose sets and costumes for the 1974 production of Aida at the Verona Arena was particularly noteworthy; a sketch for the character of the King is presented here. The work is presented in a frame.

Painted ceramics. In the 1970s, the Milanese company "Ceramica Fiori Oscuri" created a series of plates decorated with exclusive designs by ten contemporary painters. The series was limited to 250 pieces. The artists involved were: Gianfilippo Usellini, Domenico Cantatore, Domenico Purificato, Remo Brindisi, Gino Meloni, Virgilio Guidi, Pompeo Borra, Roberto Crippa, Franco Gentilini, and Gianni Dova. All plates bear the artist's signature on the front and the company logo and serial number on the back. In this group, the plates bear different serial numbers, and in particular, the plates with designs by Gianni Dova and Gianfilippo Usellini bear the words "Prova di colore" on the back, indicating that the copy was made before the final print, which was later confirmed for the plate signed by Dova, while Usellini subsequently chose another of his subjects. Borra's plate shows a small trace of restoration at the top; Crippa's plate has been reglued.

Handwritten and autographed letter by the artist, dated 1951. The letter is addressed to Gino Ghiringhelli, founder of the historic Il Milione art gallery in Milan. In this letter, Rosai tells the gallery owner the titles of his paintings to be reproduced in the catalog, drawing sketches to match the title and date of production. In the composition presented here, the collector from whom the work originates has combined the letter with the cover and pages of the catalog with the aforementioned reproductions. The composition is presented in a frame.

Sketch for the costumes of "Aida", 1974

Charcoal on paper. Signed and dated lower right, with the name of the sitter (for Amneris). Accompanied by a photo-certificate from the General Catalogue and Archive of the artist's works. This work is by the prominent Italian painter Remo Brindisi, whose painting, based on a descriptive and realistic approach in his early works, added expressionist nuances in his later works, giving rise to his own neo-figurative language. His work is always imbued with social and political intentions. Brindisi also worked as a sculptor, illustrator, writer, set designer, and cultural curator. His collaboration on the grandiose sets and costumes for the 1974 production of Aida at the Verona Arena was particularly noteworthy; a sketch for Princess Amneris is presented here. The work is presented in a frame.