Large Still Life With Game Pompeo Bottini (1873–195

*A splendid and imposing oil painting on canvas depicting a rich composition of game birds, set in front of an open window.

The work is signed in the lower right corner by the Lombard artist Pompeo Bottini (Milan, 1873 – Zoverallo, 1958), a renowned painter trained at the prestigious Brera Academy under the guidance of masters such as Giuseppe Bertini and Lodovico Pogliaghi.

Analysis of the Subject and Ornithological Accuracy:

The composition unfolds vertically with extraordinary descriptive precision, showcasing a refined variety of suspended game:

At the top, a superb specimen of a pheasant (Pheasant) dominates, its warm, coppery plumage masterfully captured by the painter.

In the center are two splendid Woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola), depicted with meticulous attention to detail in their beaks and mottled feathers.

At the bottom, a Mallard (Anatra) rounds out the composition, recognizable by its characteristic color contrasts and the texture of its feet.

This work is a perfect example of a theme very dear to late-19th-century painting: a genre capable of masterfully combining scientific naturalism (in the anatomical accuracy of the animals) with the bourgeois taste of the era, which loved to display these large compositions in the salons of their homes.

Highlights of the Work

A Rarity in the Artist’s Catalog

Compared to Bottini’s better-known works, which focus on landscapes of Lake Maggiore and floral compositions, this still life represents an unusual, rare subject of great interest to collectors.

Execution and Lighting:

The artist’s mastery is evident in the skillful play of raking light streaming from the window in the background, creating an evocative atmosphere with a Flemish flair, yet rendered with the textural sensitivity of Lombard painting.

Striking Visual Impact:

Thanks to its substantial dimensions (132.5 x 84 cm), the work presents itself as the perfect “parlor” painting, ideal for elegantly furnishing a dining room, a historic home, or a country residence.

Technical Details

Period: Late 19th – Early 20th century (circa 1895–1910)

Medium: Oil on canvas

Canvas dimensions: 132.5 x 84 cm

Condition

Good overall condition, original period canvas (first canvas). Shows slight, natural signs of aging (crackle) that attest to its authenticity.

Signed: “Bottini P.” lower right.

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