Antonio Bueno (1918-1984) - Profilo di donna

Antonio Bueno - Profile of a Woman - Red ink drawing - 1973

DETAILS OF THE WORK

Artist: Antonio Bueno (Italy)

Title of the work: Profile of a Woman

Era: 1973

Technique and materials: Red ink drawing on paper.

Signature: Signed work on the bottom right. On the back of the sheet and on the closing cardboard there is the stamp of the old Galleria d'Arte Pier Della Francesca of Arezzo.

Dimensions: 35 x 24.7 cm (sheet) | 44 x 34 x 4.5 cm (including frame).

Conditions: Excellent. No damage and no restoration, pristine paper with a splendid and natural homogeneous patina (the photographs are an integral part of the description).

Frame: Carved and gilded wood, contemporaneous, with Nielsen Museum anti-reflective glass 99% and UV-Protected.

provenance

Studio of the artist Antonio Bueno. Acquired from the artist and never left our gallery.

DOCUMENTATION

Certificate of authenticity by Galleria d'Arte Piero Della Francesca. The work is currently being archived at the Antonio Bueno Archive and has already received a positive opinion from the President Dr. Isabella Bueno. The official certificate of the Archive will be sent at our expense to the future owner as soon as completed. The gallery certificate will expressly indicate this procedure. Photocopy of the publication.

EXHIBITIONS

"Selected Works - Spring 2026", Galleria d'Arte Piero Della Francesca, Arezzo.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"Selected Works - Spring 2026", Galleria d'Arte Piero Della Francesca, Arezzo. Please note that the catalog is NOT included in the sale. Only a photocopy will be attached.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK

We offer at auction a rare and beautiful sheet of superior quality, created in 1973 by Antonio Bueno, where the maestro's mastery and incredible hand are absolutely evident. With a single continuous, fluid, perfect stroke of red ink, the author has managed to delineate one of those unmistakable "profiles of a woman" (or young ladies) that made him famous and instantly recognizable in the international art scene. In particular, this work appears to be the sketch for a well-known painting published in the artist's first monograph (Lattes/Sanguineti).

This beautiful drawing boasts an absolutely special and direct genesis and provenance: it was made in 1973, coinciding with and on the occasion of Antonio Bueno's first solo exhibition at the historic Galleria d'Arte Pier Della Francesca of Arezzo. The work comes directly from the artist's studio and has never left gallery circuits. Our gallery was indeed one of the Maestro's reference galleries in the 1970s, hosting three of his exhibitions in our spaces (his 1973 solo show, the prestigious three-person show with Maccari and Possenti in 1977, and the Cortina venue exhibition around 1979–1980).

This long-standing and close collaboration guarantees impeccable traceability and provenance. It is a rare, elegant piece of undeniable collectible value, further enhanced by archival practices already started with a fully positive outcome at the official Archive.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES AND CRITICISM ON THE ARTIST

Antonio Bueno (Berlin, 1918 – Florence, 1984) was one of the most original and appreciated painters of twentieth-century Italy. Of Spanish origin but trained between Geneva and Paris, he moved to Florence in 1940. Here he came into contact with artists such as Pietro Annigoni and Gregorio Sciltian, with whom he founded in 1947 the group of the "Pittori Moderni della Realtà" (Modern Painters of Reality), a movement advocating a return to Renaissance techniques and painterly rigor, in open polemic with abstract art.

Throughout his career, Bueno underwent fascinating stylistic phases: from meticulous, lenticular realism of his early works, to the metaphysical painting of his famous pipe and still life paintings, up to an approach toward neo-Dada art. However, his most universal and beloved figure among collectors coincides with his iconic portraits of "giovinette" (young women), female busts, sailors and firefighters: figures characterized by rounded faces, fixed gazes, and an intentionally simplified, neo-primitive aesthetic imbued with subtle, cultivated irony.

A protagonist of numerous international exhibitions, he participated in several editions of the Venice Biennale (his personal room at the 1984 Biennale is famous). His works are now housed in major museums and foundations. His rare prints and inks, such as the present work, reveal in particular an absolute graphic mastery capable of defining volumes and psychological nuances with a pure and essential line.

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Packaging: We guarantee professional and custom reinforced packaging. Packaging costs reflect the use of artisanal methods and special shock-resistant materials, essential to properly protect the artwork and the precious frame with protective Museum glass.

Courier: Tracked, fast, and secure shipping via express courier. To guarantee the buyer, this item includes mandatory shipping insurance.

Customs and Export (Extra-EU): For buyers outside the European Union, shipping may require the technical time necessary to obtain the Export License from the Ministry of Fine Arts. Any customs duties are the responsibility of the buyer.

Invoicing: Professional seller. The work will be accompanied by a fiscal receipt (or electronic invoice, available upon request by sending your details at the time of auction of the lot).