Gaetano Vitale (1923) - Paesaggio marino

Oil painting on gessoed cardboard – Gaetano Vitale (1923-?)

Description of the work
Oil painting on a rigid support depicting a Mediterranean coastal view, executed by the Neapolitan painter Gaetano Vitale (1923). The work adopts a studied perspective framing from within a rocky cavity (cave or natural arch), opening onto a beach and a seascape horizon. The composition is characterized by a strongly impasto painting technique, with thick strokes laid on relief, in line with the evolution of Italian vedutismo in the mid-20th century.

The work is signed in a clearly legible manner at the bottom right with "G. Vitale". The characters and the handwriting of the signature are contemporary with the execution of the painted film.

Gaetano Vitale (Cava de' Tirreni, Salerno, 1923) is a historically recognized painter, representative of Campanian figuration and landscape painting of the twentieth century. Trained at the local Art Lyceum, he absorbed the painterly tradition and the rigorous use of color from master Clemente Tafuri. His output swings between figurative verismo (portraits of fishermen and common folk) and seascapes devoted to the coasts of southern Italy (Amalfi Coast, Capri, Sorrento), characterized by strong chiaroscuro contrasts.

For his artistic merits he was named a member of the Accademia Tiberina and the Accademia Guglielmo Marconi.

Technical details and dimensions:
Author: Gaetano Vitale (Cava de' Tirreni, 1923)
Era of realization: 1950s / 1960s (mid-20th century)
Technique: Oil on gessoed cardboard
Dimensions of the work (image): 23 x 16 cm
Total dimensions (with frame): 40 x 33 x 5 cm (thickness)
Frame: Fine period gilded wooden frame with a deep cassetted/rebated profile and integrated wooden passe-partout.

Conservation status:
Painting: Excellent state of conservation. The painted layer is intact, stable and does not show lifting, paint loss, or obvious restorations. The rigid support maintains proper flatness.
Frame: Good overall condition. A physiological, fine superficial cracking of the gesso from the preparation in correspondence with the lower right corner is noted, common in period gilding, which does not affect the structural solidity of the artifact. Color halos on the passe-partout.