Guido Levorati (1888 – 1960) - Ritratto di musicista

GUIDO LEVORATI
(Venice, 1888 – 1960)
Portrait of a Musician
Oil on canvas, 90.5 x 76.5 cm
Signed and dated ‘G. LEVORATI 1935’ lower right
Frame dimensions approx. 92 x 80 x 5 cm

NOTE: Publication in the Intermidiart collection catalogue of works (PDF). Signed work. Certificate of Guarantee and Lawful Provenance. Work in a gilt frame (defects).

We are pleased to present in this catalogue a splendid painting, executed in oil on canvas with exceptional skill, depicting a Portrait of a Musician, painted in 1935 by the Venetian master Guido Levorati (Venice, 1888 – 1960). The painting depicts a young woman in particular, portrayed in three-quarter view, seated on a saddle or dark red velvet cushion as she holds and plucks a mandolin. Her dynamic, highly expressive pose captures her turning back toward the viewer, establishing an intimate and magnetic gaze.
Her outfit consists of a dark dress decorated with a multicoloured floral pattern, topped with a loose cream-coloured blouse that falls softly over her left shoulder, leaving it partly bare in a refined interplay of sensuality and classical grace. Her wavy hair is gathered at the nape and adorned with a striking emerald-green fabric band, tied at the back with a ribbon that falls sinuously down her back.
Formally, the work demonstrates Levorati’s solid, mature technical mastery, consolidated during the 1930s. The use of colour, with the sharp tonal contrast between the neutral, solid grey background, the model’s pale complexion, and the coloured areas of the green ribbon and dress, gives the figure three-dimensionality and sculptural prominence. The psychological characterization, meanwhile, is evident in the young woman’s features, sketched with the hint of a smile and a bright gaze, reflecting the artist’s marked aptitude for psychological introspection, combined with a sensibility of Neo-Romantic inspiration and evocative power.
Guido Levorati was born in Venice in 1888. He began his studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice, taking his first steps in the fertile artistic milieu of the lagoon city at the turn of the century. From a very young age, he took part in important regional art exhibitions, including the Verona Art Exhibition in 1900 and the Treviso Art Exhibition in 1907.
He later chose to move to Lombardy, to Milan, where he established the main base of his professional activity and taught for many years at the prestigious Brera Academy.
A reserved and retiring artist, Levorati did not seek frequent exposure in public venues, preferring to build his reputation through an educated, private clientele. He was highly esteemed by contemporary critics both for his exceptional skill in portraiture and still life, and for his valued additional work as a restorer of Old Master paintings. He died in Vimercate in 1960. This Portrait of a Musician (1935) is one of the finest and most representative examples of his interior and genre painting from the interwar period.
The work is in good overall condition. The canvas remains correctly tensioned on its original stretcher, with no warping or structural weakness.
The paint layer is stable and cohesive. The surface shows a natural, even age-related crackle (craquelure), typical of oil paintings from the 1930s, with no risk of flaking or paint loss. The protective varnish shows slight, natural yellowing over time, which does not, however, compromise the vibrancy or legibility of the colour contrasts. No scratches or abrasions are visible to the naked eye.
The painting is further enhanced by a contemporary giltwood cassetta frame, which displays a beautiful period patina and minor, normal signs of wear along the edges from handling over time (approx. 92 x 80 x 5 cm; defects present). “The frame shown in the photographs above was added to the artwork by the seller or a third party. The frame is provided at no additional cost so that the artwork is ready to display upon arrival. 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 for filing a claim or requesting cancellation of the order.”

PROVENANCE: Private Collection

PUBLICATION:
 UNPUBLISHED QUADRERIA, General Catalogue of Paintings in the Collection of the Intermidiart Gallery of Andrea Maggio, 2026 (PDF).

In the event of a sale outside Italian territory, the purchaser will need to allow time for the export formalities to be completed.