Antique Oil on Canvas Painting by Francesco Bergamini Dated 1894 19th C

This is a truly splendid antique oil on canvas painting featuring a period interior scene by Francesco Bergamini (1851-1900) Italian, signed and dated 1894.

This beautiful oil painting titled 'The Purloiners' depicts a seated monk being charmed by a thief while his  accomplices steal his belongings, all are dressed in period costumes  while a donkey surveys the seen.
Signed F. Bergamini, Roma. 

 

It is housed in it's magnificent original giltwood frame which adds extra splendour to this remarkable work of art. 

Add this splendid antique painting to a very special wall in your home. 

 

Condition:

In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Francesco Bergamini (Active 1880 - 1915)

Francesco Bergamini was an Italian artist who specialized in interior genre and religious scenes, as well as the occasional commission for a portrait or fresco.  He received his formal training at the Academy in Carrare under the direction of Giuseppe Diotti (1779 – 1846) - an artist who specialized in religious and historical scenes as well as portraiture and frescos.
 
The Altar Boy's Sermon is a mature example of Bergamini’s works and not only displays his strong academic training, but beautifully illustrates the influence of the French Impressionists were having on not only him, but on many artists of the period.  His figures are anatomically correct, but are created with a looser brush stroke and colourful palette.

Angelica Kauffman, RA (1741 - 1807)

was a Swiss-born Austrian Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Though born as "Kauffmann", Kauffman is the preferred spelling of her name in English; it is the form she herself used most in signing her correspondence, documents and paintings.

While Kauffman produced many types of art, she identified herself primarily as a history painter, an unusual designation for a woman artist in the 18th century. History painting, was considered the most elite and lucrative category in academic painting during this time period. Under the direction of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the Royal Academy made a strong effort to promote history painting to a native audience who were more interested in commissioning and buying portraits and landscapes.

Despite the popularity that Kauffman enjoyed in British society and her success as an artist, she was disappointed by the relative apathy that the British had towards history painting. Ultimately she left Britain for the continent, where history painting was better established, held in higher esteem and patronized.

The works of Angelica Kauffman have retained their reputation. By 1911, rooms decorated with her work were still to be seen in various quarters. At Hampton Court was a portrait of the duchess of Brunswick; in the National Portrait Gallery, a self-portrait. There were other pictures by her at Paris, at Dresden, in the Hermitage at St Petersburg, in the Alte Pinakothek atMunich, in Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn (Estonia).

Satinwood

is a hard and durable wood with a satinlike sheen, much used in cabinetmaking, especially in marquetry. It comes from two tropical trees of the family Rutaceae (rue family). East Indian or Ceylon satinwood is the yellowish or dark-brown heartwood of Chloroxylon swietenia.

The lustrous, fine-grained, usually figured wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneers, and backs of brushes. West Indian satinwood, sometimes called yellow wood, is considered superior. It is the golden yellow, lustrous, even-grained wood found in the Florida Keys and the West Indies.

It has long been valued for furniture. It is also used for musical instruments, veneers, and other purposes. Satinwood is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Rutaceae.