Carlo Ademollo (1824–1911) - Chioccia e i suoi pulcini

Old painting, oil on canvas, signed and dated in the lower right corner “C.A. 76,” depicting a broody hen and her chicks.

Painting depicting a hen with her chicks and other specimens of poultry moving among vegetables, terracotta vessels and rural ground. The composition, built through a careful study of the animals and the elements of rural life, yields a lively genre scene set in the Tuscan countryside.
The work belongs to the vein of genre painting and rural scenes with animals developed by Carlo Ademollo, parallel to his better-known historical and Risorgimento subjects. The artist is indeed documented also as the author of paintings with animals and rural settings, characterized by naturalistic rendering and careful description of details.
Particularly significant for attribution is the monogram “C.A.” followed by the date, placed in the lower right corner. The same signing method, with the artist’s initials accompanied by the year of execution, is documented in works by Carlo Ademollo kept at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome.
On the back there is also a handwritten collecting label bearing the title “Chioccia e i suoi pulcini,” the date 1876, and the attribution to Carlo Ademollo, Florence 1824–1911, elements that are consistent with the sign on the canvas.
The work thus constitutes an interesting example of the artist’s less conventional production, dedicated to representing rural life and the animal world, distant from the best-known historical-Risorgimento subjects for which Ademollo is more widely known.

The painting is in good overall condition, with signs of aging consistent with its age. There are some scattered restoration points, in addition to faint underlayers and craquelure of the painting surface, overall of modest extent and not in any way compromising the legibility of the depiction. The craquelure is uniform and attributable to the period, with no signs of active losses. The original canvas, which shows no stretcher marks, does not present any conservation problems. The wooden frame appears to be contemporaneous with the painting and shows no structural issues. Overall the work is solid, well preserved and with a coherent historical patina that attests to its authenticity and natural conservation evolution over time.

The painting is accompanied by an antique gilded frame. Defects, losses and signs of time are noted, together with restorations and additions visible along the profiles. The frame is included as a courtesy and is not an integral part of the artwork; any damage to it will not constitute a reason for complaint or cancellation of the order.

Dimensions of the painting: 36 x 59 cm - Dimensions of the frame: 51 x 74 cm

Work accompanied by a photographic certificate of authenticity, as required by current law.

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