Project Description

Oil on canvas rentoilée

Dimensions : 46 cm x 27 cm

Signed lower right : A.Orselli

Gentleman sword

Arturo Orselli (c.1820-1900)

Italian painter and watercolorist, renowned for its genre scenes, Arturo Orselli declined interior scenes,featuring a variety of characters, scenes of life in taverns, mythological subjects, as well as representations of gentlemen, horses and soldiers.

Arturo Orselli creates numerous oil paintings, but he is also known for his numerous watercolors.

Watercolor became more common during the “Grand Tour”, a long journey across Europe initiated by young people from the highest classes of European society, culminating in the 18th century.

The watercolor painting technique is a real craze due to its practicality and portability. Indeed, this means allows immediate visual capture of what is observed. Cependant, it is only at

19th century that it was perceived as a work of art in its own right and not as simple preparation work.

Although Arturo mainly devotes himself to the use of watercolor, he is requested in 1869 by an artistic and literary magazine “Follet Spirit” to engrave the cover. On this occasion, he abandons his colors in favor of black and white subjects. Under the leadership of Alexis Mossa, in January and February 1886, an event is organized in a small lounge on Quai Saint-Jean Baptiste in Nice, where residents could exhibit their artistic production. Orselli participated alongside artists such as Desboutins, Alexis Moss, Gamba de Preydour and Menta.Several works were acquired by the Société des Beaux-Arts for their annual lottery. In this context, the Asile Evangélique de Nice organized an exhibition of watercolors in April 1886. In its paintings and drawings, Arturo Orselli multiplies the representations of wealthy people in richly decorated bourgeois interiors. These subjects of daily life are particularly narrative, based on popular comedies.

One of his works was sold at the Pierre Bergé auction house

https://www.pba-auctions.com/lot/7972/1632575?npp=50&

Another work is offered to you by the Gallery.