French Mid 19th Century Portrait of an Italian Brigand. Oil on Canvas.
Mid 19th Century oil on canvas portrait of an Italian brigand, unsigned, in painted wood and gilt frame.
The painting is a fine and fascinating rendition with plenty of wonderful character and detail to the costume, accessories, landscape and seascape. Very atmospheric and imposing much like the character it portrays.
There is a trade stamp to the back of the canvas for the Paris firm of Susse Freres. The canvas is on a fine quality stretcher with 'keys'. There is an artist's name or title written on the top of the rear stretcher (see photo).
Bands of brigands who populated the hills of southern Italy were steady fodder for the Romantic imagination, and their exploits were reported both factually, fancifully and artistically
The painting dates from a period when France, under its then leader Napoleon III, was involved in the conflicts in the Italian states and the unification and eventual creation of the nation of Italy.
An earlier and similar portrait exists of the infamous brigand Mazzocchi by Achille-Etna Michallony .
Léon Cogniet...
Category
1860s Romantic I. Di Matteo Paintings
MaterialsCotton Canvas, Oil