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Giovanni Boldini Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Italian, 1842-1931

Giovanni Boldini was an Italian genre and portrait painter who lived and worked in Paris for most of his career. Boldini was born in Ferrara and was the son of a painter of religious subjects. In 1862, he 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 the portraits that he became best known. Moving to London, Boldini attained success as a portraitist. He completed portraits of premier members of society including Lady Holland and the Duchess of Westminster. From 1872, he lived in Paris, where he became a friend of Edgar Degas. He became the most fashionable portrait painter in Paris in the late 19th century, with a dashing style of painting which shows some Macchiaioli influence and a brio reminiscent of the work of younger artists, such as John Singer Sargent and Paul Helleu. He was nominated commissioner of the Italian section of the Paris Exposition in 1889 and received the Légion d'honneur for this appointment. In 1897, Boldini had a solo exhibition in New York. He participated in the Venice Biennale in 1895, 1903, 1905 and 1912. He died in Paris on July 11th, 1931. Giovanni Boldini is a character in the ballet Franca Florio, regina di Palermo, written in 2007 by the Italian composer Lorenzo Ferrero, which depicts the story of Donna Franca, a famous Sicilian aristocrat whose exceptional beauty inspired him and many other artists, musicians, poets and emperors during the Belle Époque. A Boldini portrait of his former muse Marthe de Florian, a French actress, was discovered in a Paris flat in late 2010, hidden away from view on the premises that were unvisited for 70 years. The portrait has never been listed, exhibited or published and the flat belonged to de Florian's granddaughter who went to live in the South of France at the outbreak of the Second World War and never returned. A love-note and a biographical reference to the work painted in 1888, when the actress was 24, cemented its authenticity. A full-length portrait of the lady in the same clothing and accessories, but less provocative, hangs in the New Orleans Museum of Art. The discovery of his painting in the 70-years-empty apartment forms the background to Michelle Gable's 2014 novel A Paris Apartment.

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Artist: Giovanni Boldini
Giovanni Boldini drawing of a lady, Italian 19th Century
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 Giovanni Boldini Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Crayon

Portrait of Lucie Gérard by Giovanni Boldini
By Giovanni Boldini
Located in New Orleans, LA
Giovanni Boldini 1842-1931 Italian Portrait of Lucie Gérard by Giovanni Boldini Signed “Boldini” (lower right) Pastel on canvas This exceptional portrait was composed by the great Giovanni Boldini, one of the most important portrait painters of the Belle Époque. The charming work captures the young, elegant French...
Category

19th Century Post-Impressionist Giovanni Boldini Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Canvas, Pastel

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Giovanni Boldini portrait drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Giovanni Boldini portrait drawings and watercolors available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Giovanni Boldini in crayon, canvas, fabric and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Post-Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Giovanni Boldini portrait drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 9 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Antonio Lopez, Michael William Eggleston, and Henry George Moon. Giovanni Boldini portrait drawings and watercolors prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $7,757 and tops out at $448,500, while the average work can sell for $228,128.

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