Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer for sale this wonderfully detailed interior watercolour by the Italian artist Ettore Ascenzi, who has signed the painting in the lower right hand corner and dated it 1905. The painting depicts the interior of a house, possibly the main room, with an old gentleman with white hair and beard and wearing spectacles, stitching a leather garment. He is sitting with his back towards an open fire, in front of which is a tabby cat, enjoying the heat. There is a large copper cooking pan hanging over the fire.

To the right of the old gentleman, is a younger woman, dressed in the costume of the Roman region, carring some fabric in her hands. Seated on the edge of the hearth is a young boy, wearing a hat. There are chickens pecking in the straw to the left and some more outside the door. The characterisation is masterly, as is the detail of the scene.

Ettore Ascenzi, whose dates we do not have, unfortunately, was active in Rome 1870-1908. He had been a student of the Academy of San Luca or Saint Luke and he exhibited historical and genre subjects in Rome from 1883-1908. He also exhibited in Turin in 1884, Venice and Milan in 1887 and took part in an Italian Art Exhibition in London in 1888. The Academy of San Luca holds three of his works, including a self portrait.

Auction results achieved for works by this artist may be viewed at artprice.com (38 listings), artnet.com (34), findartinfo.com (17) and arcadja.com (12). Both his oils and his watercolours, which are more numerous, achieve high prices and the highest price ever achieved by one of his watercolours is £9,000 including premium.

The watercolour has been newly double mounted in two tone acid free mountboard and is framed in its original 2" gilt frame. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 21" x 14" - 53.3cm x 35.55cm

Frame size: 31 3/8" x 24 7/8" - 79.2cm x 63.2cm

Medium: Watercolours on card

Condition: Excellent condition with no foxing or fading. The mounts are new and the frame original with some slight wear.