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Enrico Reffo
Head of a Monk – Preparatory Study, Atelier of Enrico Reffo

$300.64
£218.83
€250
CA$409.20
A$457.72
CHF 238.20
MX$5,634.66
NOK 3,030.38
SEK 2,843.10
DKK 1,902.55
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About the Item

Study of a Kneeling Figure, from the Circle of Enrico Reffo Charcoal on lightly toned paper 47 x 32 cm Late 19th – early 20th century From the atelier of one of Reffo’s pupils This large preparatory drawing likely served as a study for a saint or a religious figure, possibly intended for a larger altarpiece or fresco. The figure is depicted kneeling, arms open and gaze turned upwards, in a gesture of invocation or spiritual surrender. What emerges is an intriguing synthesis: the religious purpose of the drawing is approached with an academic discipline rooted in the classical study of the human form. The result is a beautifully proportioned male body, with a dignified, graceful bearing—neither idealised nor rigid, but carefully observed and strongly constructed. The artist demonstrates full control of volumes and fabrics, with a mastery of chiaroscuro and an evident sensitivity to the sculptural potential of the drapery. The pose, though dynamic, retains a meditative stillness—typical of the iconographic studies from Reffo’s environment. This sheet comes from the atelier of one of Enrico Reffo’s pupils. Reffo, a central figure in late 19th-century sacred art in Turin, was known not only for his devotional painting but for his role as a demanding teacher of ecclesiastical art. The paper shows slightly irregular margins and small studio stains, consistent with its use as a working material. A rare witness to the intellectual and formal discipline behind sacred compositions from one of the most spiritually committed and academically rigorous ateliers in post-unification Italy.
  • Creator:
    Enrico Reffo (1831 - 1917, Italian)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)Width: 14.57 in (37 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Firenze, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2464216075142

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