Pair Of Antique Paintings (arte Povera Style), Venice, 18th Century

Antique pair of round panel paintings with gilded frames-
Depicting genre scenes - Origin: Venice, 18th century.
Frame diameter: 34 cm - Painting diameter: 24 cm
In Venice and in the antiques trade, the term "arte povera" refers to an 18th-century decorative technique (also known as "lacca povera"). To offer affordable alternatives to rich lacquered furniture, Venetian artisans would glue prints and engravings onto wood, painting and finishing them to imitate original paintings.
In this case, the paper application consists only of the figures; the rest is hand-painted.
Venetian cabinetmakers used printed paper (often engravings by great artists) that was cut out, glued onto furniture, trays, or frames, and then painted and finished with protective varnishes.The meaning: "Povera" indicates the affordability of the piece. It allowed those who could not afford original oil paintings or Oriental lacquerware to own objects decorated with taste and color.