Raffaele Palmieri (1988) - Smoking Car II
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Selected by Caroline Bokobza
Graduated as French auctioneer and worked in Sotheby’s Paris valuation department.
Estimate € 2,000 - € 2,400
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Smoking Car II, created in 2026 by Raffaele Palmieri, is an oil painting on wood board from the United Kingdom, measuring 40 by 30 cm, signed and in excellent condition.
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Description from the seller
In Smoking Car II, Raffaele Palmieri presents a quiet, introspective scene inside a dimly lit train carriage. A solitary man sits by the window, his head lowered as he holds a cigarette, absorbed in a private moment of contemplation. The surrounding interior is rendered in deep browns, charcoal greys and muted ochres, while warmer orange and reddish tones emerge from the lower part of the composition, creating the impression of subdued artificial light within the carriage.
Palmieri uses a loose, expressive application of oil paint, allowing the figure and surroundings to emerge through visible brushwork and softened contours rather than precise definition. The partially obscured face and shadowed interior reinforce the sense of anonymity and introspection, while the framing of the carriage gives the work an almost cinematic quality, as though capturing a fleeting moment during a journey.
The restrained palette and atmospheric handling of light create a contemplative mood, drawing attention to the solitude of the passenger and the transient nature of the scene. Smoking Car II combines figurative observation with an expressive, painterly approach, giving an everyday moment a strong sense of atmosphere and psychological depth.
Oil on wooden board.
—
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
In Smoking Car II, Raffaele Palmieri presents a quiet, introspective scene inside a dimly lit train carriage. A solitary man sits by the window, his head lowered as he holds a cigarette, absorbed in a private moment of contemplation. The surrounding interior is rendered in deep browns, charcoal greys and muted ochres, while warmer orange and reddish tones emerge from the lower part of the composition, creating the impression of subdued artificial light within the carriage.
Palmieri uses a loose, expressive application of oil paint, allowing the figure and surroundings to emerge through visible brushwork and softened contours rather than precise definition. The partially obscured face and shadowed interior reinforce the sense of anonymity and introspection, while the framing of the carriage gives the work an almost cinematic quality, as though capturing a fleeting moment during a journey.
The restrained palette and atmospheric handling of light create a contemplative mood, drawing attention to the solitude of the passenger and the transient nature of the scene. Smoking Car II combines figurative observation with an expressive, painterly approach, giving an everyday moment a strong sense of atmosphere and psychological depth.
Oil on wooden board.
—
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
Sold with frame
No
Sold by
Agent
Edition
Original
Artist
Raffaele Palmieri (1988)
Title of artwork
Smoking Car II
Technique
Oil painting
Signature
Signed
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Year
2026
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
40 cm
Width
30 cm
Depiction/theme
Portrait
Style
Impressionism
Period
2020+
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