Raffaele Palmieri (1988) - John Doe III
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Selected by Giulia Santoro
Specialised in 17th century Old Master paintings and drawings with auction house experience.
Estimate € 2,000 - € 2,400
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John Doe III, a 2024 oil painting by Raffaele Palmieri, a portrait in an impressionist style from the United Kingdom, measuring 44.5 × 22.5 cm, signed, original edition, sold with a black wooden frame and white mount.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
John Doe III is an intimate figurative study by Italian artist Raffaele Palmieri, painted in oil on cotton sheet in 2024. The work depicts a seated male figure, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, captured in a quiet moment of apparent contemplation. His body is turned slightly away from the viewer while his gaze is directed into the distance, creating a sense of detachment and introspection.
Palmieri approaches the figure with a deliberately loose and painterly technique. Rather than pursuing precise photographic detail, he allows visible brushwork and areas of exposed or thinly worked ground to remain part of the image. The face is constructed through restrained passages of warm flesh tones, while the dark clothing is built up through layered browns, greys and near-black tones, giving the figure a substantial yet atmospheric presence.
The muted ochre background and horizontal architectural forms provide a subdued setting, allowing the figure to remain the central focus. The simplicity of the composition gives the painting a distinctly observational quality, while the anonymous title John Doe III reinforces the sense of an individual presented without a specific identity or narrative.
The work is presented in a black wooden frame with a white mount, creating a clean contrast between the warm, subdued palette of the painting and its presentation.
—
Originally trained in architecture and interior design, Palmieri brings a unique sensitivity to painting, where structure gives way to intuition. Working exclusively in oil, he builds and disrupts his surfaces with natural pigments, revealing hidden layers that mirror the complexity of memory, identity and the subconscious.
Entirely self taught, his work quickly attracted critical attention, culminating in his selection for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London just eight months after beginning his painting practice.
His portraits occupy a compelling space between observation and psychological enquiry, where each brushstroke becomes part of an evolving conversation between material, emotion and the human condition.
⸻
Havisham & Co.
Havisham & Co. is a London-based fine art agency representing contemporary artists whose work engages with heritage, symbolism, and classical craftsmanship. The agency facilitates the placement of original artworks through curated sales, private transactions, and selected international auction platforms.
Instagram: @havishamco
Website: www.havishamco.com
Email: info@havishamco.com
International shipments may be subject to customs duties and import taxes, which are determined by local authorities and are the responsibility of the buyer.
Seller's Story
Havisham & Co. was founded on the belief that contemporary art can still carry a sense of heritage. Working from London, we collaborate closely with a small group of artists whose practices are informed by classical balance, symbolism, and material depth. Havisham & Co. was founded on the belief that contemporary art can still carry a sense of heritage. Working from London, we collaborate closely with a small group of artists whose practices are informed by classical balance, symbolism, and material depth.
Instagram: havishamco
John Doe III is an intimate figurative study by Italian artist Raffaele Palmieri, painted in oil on cotton sheet in 2024. The work depicts a seated male figure, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, captured in a quiet moment of apparent contemplation. His body is turned slightly away from the viewer while his gaze is directed into the distance, creating a sense of detachment and introspection.
Palmieri approaches the figure with a deliberately loose and painterly technique. Rather than pursuing precise photographic detail, he allows visible brushwork and areas of exposed or thinly worked ground to remain part of the image. The face is constructed through restrained passages of warm flesh tones, while the dark clothing is built up through layered browns, greys and near-black tones, giving the figure a substantial yet atmospheric presence.
The muted ochre background and horizontal architectural forms provide a subdued setting, allowing the figure to remain the central focus. The simplicity of the composition gives the painting a distinctly observational quality, while the anonymous title John Doe III reinforces the sense of an individual presented without a specific identity or narrative.
The work is presented in a black wooden frame with a white mount, creating a clean contrast between the warm, subdued palette of the painting and its presentation.
—
Originally trained in architecture and interior design, Palmieri brings a unique sensitivity to painting, where structure gives way to intuition. Working exclusively in oil, he builds and disrupts his surfaces with natural pigments, revealing hidden layers that mirror the complexity of memory, identity and the subconscious.
Entirely self taught, his work quickly attracted critical attention, culminating in his selection for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London just eight months after beginning his painting practice.
His portraits occupy a compelling space between observation and psychological enquiry, where each brushstroke becomes part of an evolving conversation between material, emotion and the human condition.
⸻
Havisham & Co.
Havisham & Co. is a London-based fine art agency representing contemporary artists whose work engages with heritage, symbolism, and classical craftsmanship. The agency facilitates the placement of original artworks through curated sales, private transactions, and selected international auction platforms.
Instagram: @havishamco
Website: www.havishamco.com
Email: info@havishamco.com
International shipments may be subject to customs duties and import taxes, which are determined by local authorities and are the responsibility of the buyer.
Seller's Story
Havisham & Co. was founded on the belief that contemporary art can still carry a sense of heritage. Working from London, we collaborate closely with a small group of artists whose practices are informed by classical balance, symbolism, and material depth. Havisham & Co. was founded on the belief that contemporary art can still carry a sense of heritage. Working from London, we collaborate closely with a small group of artists whose practices are informed by classical balance, symbolism, and material depth.
Instagram: havishamco
Details
Artist
Raffaele Palmieri (1988)
Sold with frame
Yes
Sold by
Agent
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
John Doe III
Technique
Oil painting
Signature
Signed
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Year
2024
Condition
Good condition
Height
44.5 cm
Width
22.5 cm
Depiction/theme
Portrait
Style
Impressionism
Period
2020+
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