Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Italian, American, 1883-1962

Italian-born Francesco Spicuzza was primarily a Wisconsin painter who did portraits, still-lives and local landscapes. He spent the first part of his life in near-poverty to become a painter. An eternal optimist, in 1917, the artist reported: "I am happy and my only ambition now is to paint better and better until I shall have reached the measure of the best of which I am capable." (Spicuzza, 1917, p. 22). His predilection for beach scenes germinated early: reportedly, the five-year-old boy first drew the outlines of his father's fishing boat in the sand on the seashore near their home in Sicily. After setting himself up as a fruit peddler in Milwaukee, Spicuzza's father sent for his family when Francesco was eight years old. In 1899 or 1900, Spicuzza began studying drawing and anatomy under Robert Schade (1861-1912), a painter of panoramas who had been trained in Munich under Carl Theodor von Piloty. Spicuzza was also taught by Alexander Mueller (1872-1935), a product of the Weimar and Munich academies. The earliest influences in his work appear to be from Edward H. Potthast and Maurice Prendergast, though Spicuzza never mentioned either artist. Already in August 1910, Spicuzza was described in a newspaper as "one of the most talented of Milwaukee's rising workers." He undoubtedly received lasting inspiration from his one summer study period in 1911 with John F. Carlson at the Art Students League's Summer School in Woodstock, New York. Although he executed numerous still-lives and an occasional religious work, Spicuzza is best known for his Milwaukee beach scenes populated with frolicking bathers in multi-colored attire, not unlike the images of Potthast, who used a similar technique. These beach genre scenes reflect the attitude of American impressionists who depicted the more pleasant side of life. Spicuzza manipulated a successful balance of rich pigment applied in varying degrees of impasto texture with subtle nuances of hue. Working all'aperto, he sought "the soft enticing shades of yellow, blue, green, pink and lavender . . . to get the effects of bright glistening summer air." (L.E.S., n.d.). As a painter whose color not only derived from direct observation but also from a personal theory of color symbolism, Spicuzza traded the linear approach of lithography for dynamic patches of brilliant color. Like Prendergast, he would often tilt the angle of the picture plane to bring the viewer's position above the scene. Spicuzza spent a great deal of time painting en plein air and by 1925 he began summering at Big Cedar Lake, near West Bend, Wisconsin to gather his subject matter. During the difficult era of the Depression, patrons came to Spicuzza's aid and during the 40s, he taught housewives, businessmen and students at the Milwaukee Art Institute, the Milwaukee Art Center, and in his studio. In the following decade, although his kind of art was no longer popular in the "make-it-or-break-it" New York gallery world, Spicuzza enjoyed regular patronage and sales. Bio by Richard H. Love and Michael Preston Worley, Ph.D.

Artist: Francesco Spicuzza

Francesco Spicuzza20th century oil painting self portrait male subject glasses pipe signed, 1948

$33,000

20th century oil painting self portrait male subject glasses pipe signed

By Francesco Spicuzza

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Self Portrait" is an original oil painting on masonite board by Francesco Spicuzza. The artist signed the piece in the lower left. It depicts the artist holding a pipe in front of a...

Category

1940s Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Myrtle Cureton Mid Century Portrait of the Artist, c.1957

$1,350

H 17.75 in W 14.25 in D 0.25 in

Mid Century Portrait of the Artist

Located in Soquel, CA

Mid-century self-portrait by California artist Myrtle Cureton (American, 1909-2000). Signed "Myrtle Cureton" lower left. Artist's Santa Cruz Art League ...

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1950s American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Max SchneiderShoemaker at Work - Portrait in Oil on Masonite, mid 20th Century

$950

H 11 in W 8.5 in D 1 in

Shoemaker at Work - Portrait in Oil on Masonite

Located in Soquel, CA

Shoemaker at Work - Portrait in Oil on Masonite Lovely portrait of a cobbler at work by Max Schneider (German, 1903-1980). The shoemaker is holding a ha...

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Mid-20th Century Romantic Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Ethelyn Hurd Woodlock"Don't Cry Long" Abstracted and Distorted Self-Portrait, One Crying Eye, 1966

$1,600

H 21 in W 8.5 in

"Don't Cry Long" Abstracted and Distorted Self-Portrait, One Crying Eye

Located in Detroit, MI

"Don't Cry Long" is a self-portrait of the artist and an unusual one at that in which the artist portrays herself shedding tears. Perhaps it is an expression of some grief experienced by Ms. Woodlock, but it also admonishes her to not "Cry Long" while at the same time poking fun because of her elongated face and the one lone "long" tear tracing a pattern down her face. In addition to self-portraits, Ethelyn painted commissioned portraits. In this painting her head is cocked and her famous bangs hang down her forehead. Compare two self-portraits, “Up From Under”, and “M’Eyes" to "Don't Cry Long." The major differences are the close facial view and the brilliant blood red paint that fills the entire canvas. This painting is included in the book, "Dreams Have Wings: An Artist's Journey into Magic and Mystery" printed in the United States, 1985. She describes "Don't Cry Long" as showing how funny looking we are, if we cry too long. Ethelyn Woodlock...

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Mid-20th Century American Modern Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Masonite

ATHOS MENABONI"Georgia Moonshiner, c. 1935" by Athos Menaboni (1895-1990) American WPA Era Oil, Circa 1935

$3,950

H 20 in W 18 in D 2 in

"Georgia Moonshiner, c. 1935" by Athos Menaboni (1895-1990) American WPA Era Oil

Located in Yardley, PA

A fantastic WPA-era painting of a Georgia moonshiner by famed Italian-American artist Athos Menaboni (1895-1990). This work depicts an older man sporting a brown hat, brown jacket, ...

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1930s American Modern Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Francis ChapinA Captivating 1930s Modern Portrait of a Young Woman by Francis Chapin, Crica 1930

$850

H 17.75 in W 16.75 in D 1 in

A Captivating 1930s Modern Portrait of a Young Woman by Francis Chapin

By Francis Chapin

Located in Chicago, IL

A captivating, 1930s portrait painting of a young woman by famed Chicago artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). A sensitive, skilled portrait of a young female model, most likely h...

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1930s American Modern Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Masonite

Donald Roy PurdyPost Impressionist Portrait Painting with Antique Frame, 1960s

$1,800Sale Price|20% Off

H 25 in W 23 in

Post Impressionist Portrait Painting with Antique Frame

By Donald Roy Purdy

Located in Washington, DC

Painting by Donald Purdy (1924 - 2016). Oil on masonite Measures 25"L x 23"W. Work is behind glass and comes with exceptional antique frame. Acquired from the Schoneman Gallery in NY...

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1960s Post-Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Mid 20th Century Oil Portrait of a Fashionable Young Woman by Barrow c.1970, Circa 1970

$950

H 37 in W 34 in D 2 in

Mid 20th Century Oil Portrait of a Fashionable Young Woman by Barrow c.1970

Located in San Francisco, CA

Mid 20th Century Oil Portrait of a Fashionable Young Woman by Barrow c.1970 Bright, bold and colorful painting - Classic vintage oil portrait Or...

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Mid-20th Century Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Mark Beard[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Nude Male with Towel, n.d.

$10,800

H 81.875 in W 34.25 in

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Nude Male with Towel

By Mark Beard

Located in New York, NY

Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Nude Male with Towel n.d. Signed in red, u.r. Oil on canvas mounted to Masonite 81.875 x 34.25 inches This work is offered by ClampArt in New York City.

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2010s Contemporary Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Masonite, Oil

Mark Beard[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Winter Sport Athletes, n.d.

$16,650

H 84 in W 84 in

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Winter Sport Athletes

By Mark Beard

Located in New York, NY

Signed in red, u.l. Oil on canvas mounted to Masonite Price includes $650 additional cost of framing. This work is offered by ClampArt in New York City

Category

2010s Contemporary Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Masonite, Oil

Boris DeutschA Soulful Modernist Portrait, 1957

$4,250

H 34 in W 28 in D 2 in

A Soulful Modernist Portrait

By Boris Deutsch

Located in San Francisco, CA

On offer is a portrait of an unknown sitter who is rendered with profound dignity yet lifted from gloomy solemnity by a vibrant and intriguing background. Notably, artist Boris Deuts...

Category

1950s American Modern Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Dorothy Steck BeechMid Century Modern Madonna and Child, 1961

$2,500

H 34 in W 24 in D 2 in

Mid Century Modern Madonna and Child

Located in Soquel, CA

A beautiful mid century modernist take on Madonna and child by Dorothy Steck Beech of Carmel, California (American, 1915-2002). Signed "D.S. Beech" lower right. Displayed in a rusti...

Category

1960s American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Helen Enoch GleiforstMid Century Portrait of a Girl in Bonnet, 1950

$975

H 20 in W 16 in D 1 in

Mid Century Portrait of a Girl in Bonnet

By Helen Enoch Gleiforst

Located in Soquel, CA

Mid century portrait of a girl in bonnet by listed artist Helen Mae Enoch Gleiforst (American,1903-1997), circa 1950. Unframed. Signed "Gleiforst" lower left corner. Image size: 20"H...

Category

1950s American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Previously Available Items

Francesco Spicuzza'Little Mary Spicuzza' signed oil painting of the artist's niece, 1903

Sold

H 27.38 in W 23.75 in

'Little Mary Spicuzza' signed oil painting of the artist's niece

By Francesco Spicuzza

Located in Milwaukee, WI

In this haunting yet adoring portrait, Francesco Spicuzza presents to the viewer his niece Mary. Her young face, probably from when about six years old, emerges from a hazy buildup o...

Category

1910s American Impressionist Francesco Spicuzza Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Francesco Spicuzza portrait paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Francesco Spicuzza portrait paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Francesco Spicuzza in oil paint, paint, masonite and more. Not every interior allows for large Francesco Spicuzza portrait paintings, so small editions measuring 38 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Xue Mo, Sir Godfrey Kneller, and Orovida Pissarro. Francesco Spicuzza portrait paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $18,500 and tops out at $33,000, while the average work can sell for $26,800.