Scuola post-macchiaiola (XX) - Paesaggio fluviale con figure - NO RESERVE

POST-MACCHIAIOLO PAINTER (XX)
(Active in Central Italy in the early 1900s)
River landscape with figures
Oil on panel, 63 x 104 cm
Unsigned
Frame size approx. 80 x 123 x 5 cm.

NOTE: Publication catalog of works from the Intermidiart collection (PDF). Certificate of legitimate provenance. Work with an antique box-frame in molded and lacquered wood in panna/ivory tones (defects):

We present in the catalog an interesting oil painting on canvas of good quality, depicting a River landscape with figures, executed by an anonymous painter active in the early 20th century in central Italy.
The work offers a lyrical, pastoral view focused on the theme of the water landscape. In the foreground on the left, the reflection of a river or drainage canal mirrors, with bluish tones, the clear sky light, breaking the chromatic density of the mainland. On the right, a prominent embankment raised with a diagonal profile guides the eye toward the interior of the composition. On this height, among shrubs and the slender central tree group that serves as the vertical axis of the work, a few stylized human figures move—outlined with swift and incisive blocks of color—evoking the humble industriousness of rural life. In the background, a chain of hills or mountains stands against a sky carved by light clouds, fading toward blue tones due to atmospheric perspective.
The painting is fully attributable to the post-Macchiaiolo school of the first half of the 20th century, a movement that carried the great lesson of 19th-century “spots” toward a more modern and intimate sensibility, akin to the contemporary studies of masters such as Giovanni Bartolena, Plinio Nomellini, or the Gioli brothers Luigi and Francesco.
The author demonstrates a wise mastery of en plein air painting. The composition is not defined by a preliminary academic drawing, but by a vigorous, tactile, abbreviated painting sketch. The brushstrokes are broad and constructive, capable of synthesizing form through the contrast between the warm earth tones (ochre, browns and Siena earths of the promontory) and the cool vibrations of vegetation and the banks.
The light, zenithal yet soft, bathes the scene, conveying the sense of a summer afternoon or early autumn in the Tuscan countryside or the Maremma. The work stands out for an atmosphere of calm contemplation, where the human figure is not the protagonist but is an integral and harmonious part of a nature examined in its purest and most sincere values.
Regarding its conservation status, the panel is in generally discrete condition consistent with the period of execution. The dimensions are 63 x 104 cm. The painting is enhanced by an antique box-frame in molded and lacquered wood in panna/ivory tones (frame measurements 80 x 123 x 5 cm, with defects).
"The frame shown in the photos above has been added to the artwork by the seller or a third party. The frame is provided at no additional cost so that it is ready for display as soon as it arrives. The frame is included as a courtesy and is not considered an integral part of the artwork. Therefore, any potential damage to the frame that does not affect the artwork itself will not be accepted as valid grounds to open a claim or request order cancellation."

PROVENIENCE: Private Collection

PUBLICATION:
 UNEDITED QUADRERIA, General catalog of the paintings in the Intermidiart Gallery collection by Andrea Maggio, 2026 (pdf).

In case of sale outside the Italian territory, the buyer must wait for the export procedures to be completed.