An important Italian painting from the first half of the 20th century. Oil on canvas, on the first canvas, attributed to the Bolognese painter Alfredo Protti (1882-1949), depicting "The Swans," a large and captivating composition dedicated to the feminine universe. The painting features the inscription "A. Protti" on the back of the oval canvas, and a label from the Alfredo Protti Retrospective Exhibition held at the Civic Museums of Bologna in 1971 on the stretcher.
The scene is set in a sumptuous classically inspired garden, amidst balustrades, colonnades, busts, and ancient sculptures. In the background, an elegant colonnaded temple accommodates a female statue, creating a second focal point and accentuating the composition's depth of perspective. The protagonists are four young women captured in a moment of intimacy and refined sensuality. In the center, a girl, depicted nude and from behind, rises above a fountain to hold a flower to the bust of an ancient sculpture; behind her, a young woman dressed in yellow accompanies the gesture with her gaze. On the right, a woman elegantly dressed in red sits with a flower-decorated hat, while lower down, another half-naked girl is busy adjusting a long stocking. Finally, in the foreground appear the two swans from which the work's title derives.
The artist constructs a refined fantasy in which the classical world becomes the ideal setting for a representation of feminine beauty. The palette is dominated by warm hues of ochre, ivory, and brown, enlivened by the subtle chromatic accents of the flowers. The soft brushstrokes and deliberately subdued lighting lend the whole an elegant, almost suspended atmosphere.
Protti was one of the most interesting figures in 20th-century Bolognese painting. Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, he developed a personal figurative language in which the female figure occupies a central role. Women captured in everyday life, in the intimacy of their home, or in poses of refined sensuality constitute one of the most characteristic themes of his work. His painting combines a solid academic background with a modern sensibility, attentive to light, color, and above all to the psychological and sensual representation of women.
A spectacular contemporary wooden frame, richly crafted and gilded with plant motifs and scrolls, encloses the original oval format of the canvas and accentuates the scenographic nature of the composition. It shows some signs of aging (see photo).
Given its subject matter, size, and dramatic presence, this painting is destined to become the centerpiece of its surroundings. It is particularly suited to a large hall, a historic residence, or a contemporary setting where the contrast between modern furnishings and figurative painting can enhance its character. The work has already been restored with small patches of color, and is in overall good condition.
Width: H 143 cm, W 98 cm
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SILVER Seller in Cuneo, Italy
