Antonio Mancini (1852-1930), after - Giovane Violinista

The intense painting presented here can be attributed to a follower of Antonio Mancini and is distinguished by the expressive strength of the depicted figure: a young man caught in a moment of emotional suspension, holding a violin in one hand and a tambourine in the other. The work fits within the context of Neapolitan pictorial verismo, interwoven with symbolic accents and a theatrical component.
The environment is sparse, lacking a defined spatial context: the figure emerges with great power, shaped by a raking light that sculpts its features and highlights the deep expression of the face: the parted lips, the directed gaze, and the marked physiognomy convey an intense emotional state, with melancholic nuances. The light hits the face and hands with magnificent chiaroscuro contrast, emphasizing the boy's pathos.

The brushstroke is substantial, vibrant, and cursive, with quick and confident interventions especially in the reflections and details of the two instruments. The color appears tactile, in the reds, browns, and whites, following Mancinian lessons of a painting that rises to a sculptural dimension. Blacks and earth tones dominate the scene, while luminous accents guide the viewer's eye toward the main expressive points: the face, the violin, the edge of the tambourine.

The painting belongs to late-romantic introspective painting, where the portrayed, captured in an unusual pose, takes on a psychological and evocative narrative of personal experience.

The fabric comes from a Venetian private collection.

It was cleaned in the last century, concurrently with a restoration of the support frame.

As a gift, along with the work, there is a beautiful wooden frame.

Dimensions: 55 cm x 45 cm.