By Giovanni Boldini
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Giovanni Boldini (Italian, 1842-1931)
Etude de femme au ruban noir
Signed with atelier stamp (lower left), further inscribed, signed and dated by Emilia Boldini (the artist’s wife) `no 77 le_ atelier Boldini. Emilia Boldini Carbona 1931’ (on the reverse)
Black crayon on paper
11.7/8 x 8.7/8 in. (30 x 22.5 cm.)
Emilia’s inscription on the reverse from the year of his death.
Giovanni Boldini was an Italian genre and portrait painter who lived and worked in Paris for most of his career. According to Time magazine, he was known as the "Master of Swish" because of his flowing style, exemplified by the confident strokes in this fine example.
Boldini was born in Ferrara, the son of a painter of religious subjects, and in 1862 went to Florence for six years to study and pursue painting. He only infrequently attended classes at the Academy of Fine Arts, but in Florence, met other realist painters known as the Macchiaioli, who were Italian precursors to Impressionism. Their influence is seen in Boldini's landscapes which show his spontaneous response to nature, although it is for his portraits that he became best known.
Moving to London, Boldini attained success as a portraitist, painting notable members of society including Lady Holland and the Duchess of Westminster...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
