Circhia Di Natale Schiavoni (chioggia, 1777 - Venice, 1858), The Letter

Circhia di Natale Schiavoni (Chioggia, 1777 - Venice, 1858)

The letter

Oil on copper, cm 48 x 38

With frame, cm 67,5 x 59

Natale Schiavoni (Chioggia, 25 April 1777 - Venice, 16 April 1858) was an Italian painter and engraver, known above all for his portraits and genre scenes characterized by a delicate sensuality and elegant execution. Born into a family of artists - his father Felice was a painter -, Schiavoni was initially trained in the workshop of his father. His early artistic inclination soon led him to Venice, where he studied and got in touch with the artistic environment of the lagoon city. His career developed through different phases and influences. Initially linked to the Venetian pictorial tradition of the eighteenth century, with a particular attention to color and light, Schiavoni was able to evolve his style, incorporating elements of neoclassicism and romanticism. He became particularly popular for his portraits, in which he was able to grasp with sensitivity the personality and elegance of subjects, often members of the high society of his time. His female figures are characterized by an idealized beauty and an aura of refined melancholy. In addition to portraits, Schiavoni also dedicated himself to genre painting, creating intimate and graceful scenes, often with female figures in languid poses or in idealized everyday contexts. His skill in drawing and attention to detail helped make these works particularly pleasing and refined. During his career, Schiavoni traveled frequently, staying in Trieste and Milan, where he worked as a portrait artist and met important personalities of the cultural and aristocratic world. These trips broadened his artistic horizons and influenced his production. He returned to Venice and continued his successful painting activity until his death in 1858.