Oil On Paper, Unsigned Work By A Venetian Artist From The Late 19th Century.

This small painting depicts a woman dressed in a long pink gown who, in a melancholic posture, inclines her head and gently drops grains with meditative slowness.

The artistic movement to which this piece belongs is most certainly Venetian Realism:
The posture, clothing, and atmosphere strongly recall the style of Giacomo Favretto, particularly his work El difeto xe nel manego . It is therefore plausible that this piece originates from his circle or from a workshop influenced by his manner. Artists within his milieu often revisited these themes with stylistic variations, producing works on paper or canvas, sometimes in reduced formats or intended for illustration.Giacomo Favretto was one of the leading figures of 19th-century Venetian Realism, a movement that distanced itself from academic conventions to embrace everyday life, capturing scenes of popular culture with tenderness and emotion. Influenced by major artists such as Carpaccio and Longhi, Favretto developed a luminous, spontaneous painting style often tinged with humor, focusing on market scenes, modest interiors, and popular characters. His work El difeto xe nel manego, presented at the National Exhibition in Milan in 1881, perfectly embodies this approach. In the last photo, a detail from this work by Giacomo Favretto offers a point of comparison with the piece currently for sale.

Condition report:

The work on paper, likely cut from a larger composition, shows numerous small creases, yellowing, and traces of earlier restoration. Nevertheless, despite the marks of time — folds, cracks, and discoloration — the painting retains a remarkable pictorial quality and undeniable narrative charm.