Tuesday 21 May 2019, 8.45 pm
Presentation of the painting by Elena Pontiggia (Accademia di Brera, Milan).
The Collezione Lercaro is pleased to exhibit a portrait of “Contadino” painted by Giovanni Fattori (1825-1908), one of the greatest artists of the nineteenth century and a leading exponent of the Tuscan Macchiaioli.
The work, belonging to a collector who has generously decided to make it available to everyone through the museum, is little known in his studies:
its exposure, therefore, represents a significant opportunity to deepen the juvenile phase of Fattori. It is a beautiful face of buttero, the traditional shepherd on horseback of the Tuscan Maremma, traced in oil on canvas and dated «February 5, 1850».
The artist’s brush glides quickly over the shadows that animate the white shirt and the backgrounds that define the brown vest, while he lingers with skill on the face, the true heart of the work. The skin, hardened by life in the open air, restores the fatigue of the work to which this man is subjected, but takes nothing away from the dignified composure with which he presents himself.
Created for «the friend Vangi», the portrait seems to have a character of homage to a loved one: the artist therefore leaves out every decorative aspect and aims to restore the psychological identity through the fresh description of the face. The work will be displayed inside the permanent collection.
Free entry
Giacomo Lercaro Cardinal Foundation
Lercaro collection
Museum opening hours:
Thursday and Friday 10.00 – 13.00 – Saturday and Sunday 11.00 – 18.30
Via Riva di Reno, 57 – Bologna
Tel. 0516566210
www.raccoltalercaro.it / segreteria@raccoltalercaro.it
