Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering for sale this interesting portrait study in subtly toned watercolours on tissue paper, by the Italian artist Gemma Vercelli, who has signed the painting Gemma V in the lower right hand corner. The painting is a rather haunting study of a youjng girl with short hair, a face that is sometimes echoed in her other works. We understand that, as a young girl, the artist Olga Carolina Rama (Carol Rama) modelled for Gemma Vercelli, as her studio was next door to their home at 17 Via Digione in Turin. This may be her.

This is one of two watercolours by this artist that we have and think it is possible that they were executed in the war years where there would have been a shortage of artists' materials.

Gemma Vercelli was born in Turin on 1st January, 1906, the daughter of the impressionist painter Giulio Romano Vercelli (1871-1951) and the older sister of Renato Agnelo Vercelli (1907-1988). Both children received their early painting lessons from their father. Apart from short visits to London, Paris and Nice, Gemma lived and worked in Turin until 1960 and her studio was at 19 Via Digione. After that time she moved to the countryside. She died in Turn on 1st January 1995 at the age of 89.

The paintings of Gemma are totally idealistic allegorical, symbolizing emotions, nature's cycles, or various mythologies by women's ethereal bodies and faces. Most notable is her fine rendering of expression in the eyes, and her gift to give life to the hands. Her technique using delicate touches of colours sometimes evokes pointillism

Solo Exhibitions

Galleria Bardi - Milano, 1929

Museum

Paris (Musee d'Art Moderne)
Montecatini.
Piacenza (Museo Ricciardi), title: "Gli acrobati".
Torino (Cercolo degli artisti).

The watercolour has been newly double mounted in two tone acid-free mountboard and is newly framed in a 1 1/4 inch two tone gilt frame with black outer edge. It will be supplied with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

Image size: 11 x 7 1/2 inches - 28cm x 19cm

Frame size: 18 3/8 x 14 3/4 inches - 46.7cm x 37.45cm

Medium: Watercolours on tissue paper

Condition: Very good. Due to the tissue paper on which the portrait was executed, there is some wrinkling to the surface through the hair at the top. The mounts and frame are new.