Gaspare Gambi – Saint Martha – Signed Charcoal Drawing, 1907

A rare charcoal drawing signed and dated 1907 by Gaspare Gambi (Ravenna, 1889 – 1968), depicting Saint Martha, an emblematic figure of Christian iconography. Created when the artist was only 18 years old, the work showcases his early mastery of academic drawing and sacred themes.

The composition is sober yet powerful, highlighting the saint’s contemplative posture and the delicate shading that enhances the spiritual presence of the figure. Signed in the lower right corner, the piece is presented in its original period wooden frame with glass. A fine example of early 20th-century sacred art.

Artist's Biography

Gaspare Gambi (Ravenna, July 26, 1889 – Ravenna, 1968) was an Italian draftsman, engraver, and art teacher. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ravenna and later at the Scuola d’Arte Applicata all’Industria in Florence, where he qualified to teach drawing in secondary schools.

His passion for engraving began in the studio of painter and printmaker Vittorio Guaccimanni. Gambi was especially devoted to depicting the monumental heritage of Ravenna and participated in many national and international exhibitions, including the II Quadriennale in Rome (1935), the XXI Venice Biennale (1938), and the Landscape Exhibition in Bologna (1934). His work is noted for its academic rigor and deep reverence for the masters of the Renaissance.