Francesco Malacrea (trieste 1812-1886) Still Life With Fruits

The Biedermeier still life with fruit was executed in 1857 by the still life painter Francesco Malacrea. He was born in Trieste in 1813 and died there in 1886. His family was originally from the Friuli region. He was eccentric in both his behavior and his dress. He often painted several paintings side by side on sashes of the same canvas, then sold them on the street, simply cutting out what customers wanted. He depicted flowers, vegetables, fruit, game, and fish.
Five of his works are in the collection of the Civico Museo Revoltella in Trieste. Along with the painting on display, the Narodna galerija also holds Still Life with Fruit and a Small Basket, Inv. No. 3024. The dead birds and victims are kept in Strmol Castle near Kranj.

Literature: Franco Firmiani-Sergio Molesi, Catalogo della Galleria d´Arte Moderna del Civico Museo Revoltella, Trieste 1970, pp. 93-94, tab. 58, fig. 66-69 (text: Franco Firmiani); Enrico Castelnuovo, La Pittura in Italia, l´Ottocento, Volume 2, Electa, 1991; Claudio H. Martelli, Dizionario degli artists di Trieste, dell´isontino, dell´Istria e della Dalmazia, 4ª edizione, Trieste, Hammerle Editori, 2009
Inscription: signed and dated 1857 lower right.
Technique: oil on canvas, luxurious gilded frame from the original period.
Dimensions: Unframed: 52 x 40 cm, framed: 64 x 52.5 cm.
Condition: In good condition.