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Oreste CortazzoThe Unveiling of the Masterpiece by Oreste Cortazzo19th Century
19th Century
About the Item
Oreste Cortazzo
1836-1910 Italian
The Unveiling of the Masterpiece
Signed "Cortazzo" (lower right)
Oil on panel
Among the most accomplished genre paintings of the 19th century, The Unveiling of the Masterpiece stands as Oreste Cortazzo's crowning achievement and a testament to the sophisticated storytelling that defined the prestigious Paris Salons. This monumental composition transforms the canvas into a museum, capturing the theatrical moment when aristocratic connoisseurs gather to witness the revelation of a masterwork.
Cortazzo creates an extraordinary tableau of 18th-century aristocratic refinement, where five elegantly dressed women occupy a sumptuous interior filled with period treasures. Each figure displays distinctly rendered expressions ranging from rapt fascination to studied indifference, their silk gowns and elaborate coiffures painted with meticulous attention to texture and light. The artist populates the grand hall with an encyclopedic collection of decorative arts: intricate tapestries line the walls, Renaissance furniture provides elegant staging, with porcelains and bronze sculptures catching reflections of light. Every element demonstrates Cortazzo's photographic precision and deep understanding of material culture, while the composition's careful orchestration builds anticipation toward the veiled painting at left—creating a moment suspended between revelation and concealment.
Oreste Cortazzo emerged as one of the foremost practitioners of academic genre painting during the Belle Époque, earning international recognition for his ability to bring historical scenes to vivid life. After initial training with his artist father, Michele, Cortazzo studied under the renowned Léon Bonnat in Rome in 1858 before establishing himself in Paris. His works graced the prestigious Paris Salon annually between 1874 and 1885, earning numerous accolades, including recognition at the Exposition Universelle of 1878 and 1889. The influential art dealer Adolphe Goupil championed Cortazzo's work, helping establish his reputation among elite collectors throughout Europe and America. His mentor Bonnat acquired several paintings for his collection, now housed at the Musée Bonnat-Helleu, cementing Cortazzo's position within the academic hierarchy of French art.
19th century
Panel: 25 3/4" high x 38" wide (65.4 x 96.5 cm)
Frame: 33" high x 42 3/4" wide (83.8 x 108.6 cm)
Provenance:
Fresno Metropolitan Museum, California (until 2010)
Private Collection
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
- Creator:Oreste Cortazzo (1836)
- Creation Year:19th Century
- Dimensions:Height: 33 in (83.82 cm)Width: 42.75 in (108.59 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:New Orleans, LA
- Reference Number:Seller: 32-10641stDibs: LU18616491372
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