Scuola Napoletana (XIX), Attributed to - L'assalto delle caprette

Important 19th-Century Painting "The Sheep Attack" – Neapolitan School – On panel with Gold Oval Frame.

I present at auction a fascinating and vivid period painting from the second half of the 19th century, titled "The Sheep Attack," coming from an inheritance. The work depicts a splendid and detailed bucolic scene, a pastoral theme of enormous success in the southern painting tradition of the 19th century. The composition vividly describes a moment of rural life along a country path: a child sits atop a donkey laden with straw, completely surrounded and "attacked" by a flock of curious and dynamic goats, with other figures masterfully suggested in the background of a bright rural landscape.

Artistic Context and Provenance Notes (Palizzi, Milone, Uva) The Style and Masters of the Southern Landscape, The painting is executed with a highly refined painting technique (oil or tempera with excellent handling) housed in the classic and stable oval form. Stylistically, the subject and the meticulous rendering of the animals directly recall the famous masterpiece "The Sheep Attack" by Cesare Uva (Avellino, 1824 – Naples, 1886), one of the leading exponents of 19th-century Campanian landscape painting.

Nota di trasparenza per i collezionisti (Transparency note for collectors): The work, although not bearing a visible signature on the front, comes from a prestigious collection and family inheritance. In family memories and historical records, the painting has always been associated with the hand of two other giants of 19th-century Neapolitan painting: the master Filippo Palizzi (renowned for his animal portraits and rural scenes of absolute realism) or the painter Antonio Milone (known for his genre scenes and pastoral subjects). This convergence of styles makes the lot of great critical interest, fully attributable to the best production of the Neapolitan School of the 19th century.

Technical Sheet of the Lot. Subject: The Sheep Attack (Buoy and pastoral scene)
Epoch: 19th Century (Mid to Late 1800s). School: Neapolitan School / Southern Landscape Painting (Close to Uva / Palizzi / Milone). Technique: Oil or tempera on oval support. Provenance: Inheritance and private collection. Frame: Oval period wooden frame, carved and gilded (Included in the lot as A GIFT – does not constitute part of the estimate or the painting’s value).

State of Conservation and Frame Notes

The painting is in good overall condition, with the surface retaining a beautiful period patina and warm, vivid, bright colors and signs of age. Obviously a cleaning and restoration would increase not only value but also beauty. Regarding the period gilded frame, while preserving its exceptional 19th-century charm, there are – for maximum transparency and as clearly visible in the photo gallery – some losses in gilding/carving and a small structural crack. The frame is offered with the artwork at no extra charge: the buyer accepts its condition, which does not affect the economic valuation of the painting. Please examine the detail photos carefully before bidding.

The frame visible in the photo is included as a courtesy and is not an integral part of the work. Any damage to the frame will not be a valid basis for claims or order cancellations. The dimensions with the frame are approximately 450 x 39.5 cm; the panel itself is about 30 x 21 cm.

Given the fragility and high historical value of the painting, shipping will be handled with high-security criteria: protection with bubble wrap and other materials in addition to a rigid cardboard box to absorb shocks and vibrations. Service entrusted exclusively to a well-known premier international express courier with a tracking code provided to the buyer. The shipment will travel with full insurance coverage for the entire purchase value, ensuring a safe and totally worry-free transaction.