Potrait Of A Musician Girl (attilio Andreoli 1877 - 1950)

The work depicts a smiling young woman dressed in the traditional costumes of central Italy, holding a stringed instrument—probably a mandolin—and painted life-size. The painting is previously unpublished and comes from a private collection; it is signed and dated 1902 and is in excellent condition. It is offered together with its original frame.

The work perfectly represents the “Scapigliato” taste, which played a major role in Italian painting between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Milan in 1877, Andreoli studied at the Brera Academy, where he first exhibited in 1900 with “Risha Protecting the Bodies of Her Children”, which won the Gavazzi Prize. In the early years of his career, he achieved considerable success.

In 1903, he won another prize in Milan with “Christ and the Adulteress” (Milan, Gallery of Modern Art) and completed a cycle of mural decorations in the Church of the Frati on Via Farini. After abandoning biblical and historical subjects, he devoted himself to genre painting and portraiture. In 1917, he won a gold medal in Milan with “The Violinist.” His Self-Portrait is housed at the Gallery of Piacenza, and two portraits of benefactors are held at the Ospedale Maggiore in Milan. Another important work of his is located at the Catholic University of Milan.

He remained an honorary member of the Brera Academy throughout his life, even after retiring into private life. He primarily employed a highly refined and virtuosic palette knife technique, completing his works without brush finishing, achieving effects of compact, enamel-like color. Size of the frame cm 205 x 105.