Late 19th-century Italian School / Viala / Pair Of Portraits Of Men With Pipes / Hst

LATE 19TH-CENTURY ITALIAN SCHOOL / VIALA / PAIR OF PORTRAITS OF MEN WITH PIPES / hst

A very beautiful pair of portraits of men belonging to the late 19th-century Italian School, both signed “Viala” in the lower right corner. These two oil-on-canvas paintings, very similar in subject matter and spirit, depict ordinary men, captured with great character and humanity.
The weathered faces, beards, rustic clothing, and the presence of the pipe place these works within the Italian realist tradition of the second half of the 19th century, which focused on depicting the rural world and everyday figures.

FIRST PAINTING – OLD ITALIAN FARMER SMOKING A PIPE

Oil on canvas depicting an old Italian farmer smoking his pipe. The figure, with a deeply lined face and a long beard, is rendered with great expressiveness. The artist pays particular attention to the depiction of the face and to evoking the image of a man from rural Italy.
Signed lower right: VIALA.
Oil on canvas in very good condition, carefully restored.
Dimensions (viewable area): 36 × 29 cm.
Dimensions with frame: 53 × 45 cm
Beautiful solid wood frame with gilded finish and passe-partout.

SECOND PAINTING – MAN WITH A PIPE

Oil on canvas depicting a bearded man smoking a pipe, wearing a green jacket and a red cap. The rendering of the face and beard is particularly well done. The warm color palette, combined with soft lighting, gives the figure a strong presence.
The contrast between the red cap, the green jacket, and the brown tones of the face enhances the lively character of this portrait.
Also signed in the lower right corner: VIALA.
Oil on canvas in perfect condition.
Canvas dimensions: 40 × 30 cm.
Dimensions with frame: 61.5 × 51 cm.

Late 19th-century Italian school. The two paintings are offered as a set and form a beautiful pair of character portraits, particularly suitable for display.