Ezio Marzi (1875-1955) - Paesaggio Toscano

AUTHOR

Ezio Marzi (1875-1955) Italian painter, etcher, and watercolorist. Born in Florence, deeply rooted in the Tuscan artistic tradition from the late 19th century to the first half of the twentieth century. His training took place at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, where he attended courses until 1905, studying under masters such as Giovanni Ciaranfi. In the early years of the century, Marzi shared his creative vitality in a studio on Via delle Belle Donne in Florence with his colleague Alberto Zardo; precisely in that period, in 1901, he distinguished himself by participating in the prestigious Alinari competition for the illustration of the Divine Comedy, an event that marked the beginning of a consistent and fortunate exhibition career between Florence, Milan, and Genoa. In 1907 he participated in the VII International Art Exhibition of the City of Venice. In 1908/1909 he participated in the IV Exhibition of the Association of Italian Artists in Florence. In 1913 he appears at the VIII Exhibition of the Association of Italian Artists, held at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence.

His artistic production, which earned him in 1913 the appointment as corresponding Academician of the Academy of Florence, stood out for a particular sensitivity toward gender-themed subjects, portraits, and views captured with a solid technique that ranged from oil to etching. Although he was an attentive interpreter of reality, his style never remained imprisoned in pure academicism, but evolved toward a more atmospheric and vibrant rendering, capable of ennobling everyday scenes and landscapes with a light that was always authentic. Beyond painting, Marzi left an important mark as an illustrator and creator of cartoons for private art schools, keeping alive the Florentine drawing tradition until his death, which occurred in his native city in 1955.

Description

"Tuscan Landscape", oil on panel, 27*32cm with frame, 11*16cm the panel alone, 1908, signed bottom left. On the back some pencil notes, not clear if by the author, identify the painting as a sketch by Marzi, reporting the date 1908. Beautiful early 20th-century guilloché frame.

The subject depicts a Tuscan landscape, with a typical rural complex situated on the left side, distinguished by the sloping roof and a tall vertical structure that rises from dense, indistinct vegetation. The scene is immersed in a milky, rarefied atmosphere, in which slender trees in the foreground act as natural backstage scenery, guiding the eye toward a hazy horizon. This composition testifies to Marzi's sensitivity in capturing the poetry of secluded places, transfiguring reality through a filter that privileges visual emotion over didactic description.

From a formal standpoint, the painting represents a valuable testimony of the artist's youthful phase, created just three years after completing his studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze under the guidance of Giovanni Ciaranfi. The brushwork, rapid, fluid and at times concise, clearly reveals his training as an illustrator and watercolourist. Color is not used to define rigid volumes, but to suggest luminous vibrations and atmospheric variations with touches that are nearly transparent. The chromatic play, based on a refined range of blue-tinged grays, earthy greens and brief flashes of red, shows a technical mastery that avoids academic detailing in favor of a vibrant tactile rendering. It sits perfectly within the production of early Italian 20th century. A work of refined composition and pleasant aesthetic impact.

Condition Report

Good overall condition, the painting is intact in every part with vivid colors and clearly legible brushwork. The frame is included as a compliment.

Tracked and insured shipment with adequate packaging.