Niccolò Narni (XIX) - Davidde

DAVID by Niccolò Nardi.
In 1859, as the cursive signature reads, Nardi graphically translated the painting by Guido Reni, the celebrated Bolognese Baroque master who conceived the composition (David’s pose, Goliah’s head placed on the pillar, and the drapery) in the early seventeenth century, carrying out this chiaroscuro academic study. Contemporary records (such as the chronicles of Tuscan cultural circles linked to the Uffizi or to Central Italian Academies) mention the figure of a Niccolò Nardi within the milieu of painters and draftsmen tied to the strand of historic Romanticism and figure painting. Mid-nineteenth century training for artists like Nardi necessarily involved confronting the giants of the past: masterfully copying an artwork from the Louvre or the Uffizi was the way these draftsmen demonstrated to academic commissions their excellence in drawing control, shadows, and anatomical proportions. The drawing shows notable skill. The chiaroscuro is deep, the anatomical volumes of David and the drapery are well balanced, and the shading of the pencil or charcoal is of excellent craftsmanship.
The splendid gold wooden frame with carved corner decorations appears to be contemporaneous (late nineteenth century) or from the early twentieth century.
Approximate size without frame: 56 x 42 cm; with frame: 73 x 59 cm.
Notice: The frame visible in the photo is included as a courtesy and is not an integral part of the artwork. Any damage to the frame will not be grounds for claims or order cancellations.