Giuseppe Rossi Vergara (1882 – 1944) - Il Tevere a Città di Castello (Perugia) - NO RESERVE

GIUSEPPE ROSSI VERGARA
(Naples, 1882 – 1944)
The Tiber at Città di Castello (Perugia)
Colored pastel on paper, 45 x 45 cm
Signed “G. ROSSI” at lower right
Frame dimensions approx. 66 x 66 x 5 cm

NOTES: Publication in the catalog of works from the Intermidiart collection (PDF). Signed at lower right. On the reverse is an inscription giving the title of the work, the artist's name, and the documentary reference “III mostra di Napoli del 1945” (3rd Naples exhibition, 1945). Certificate of Guarantee and Lawful Provenance. Work in an ornate, gilded frame (with defects):

This refined pastel on paper, conceived in the classic and evocative circular format, is set within a sumptuous period square frame made of carved and gilded wood, embellished at the corners with fine, symmetrically arranged raised foliate and geometric motifs.
The work offers a lyrical, nocturnal view of the upper reaches of the Tiber near Città di Castello, in Umbria, masterfully orchestrated in a cool color palette in which the deep blues and sky blues of the sky and water engage with the dark silhouettes of the riverside vegetation and the architecture in the background. At the center of the scene, a delicate crescent moon peeks out from among the clouds, casting a crisp silver reflection across the water that runs vertically through the composition. The skillful use of pastel creates soft gradations and velvety chiaroscuro transitions, imbuing this Umbrian view with a sense of quiet stillness and profound romantic intimacy.
Born in Naples in 1882 and passing away in 1944, Giuseppe Rossi Vergara was a highly regarded painter and restorer, known for his longstanding collaboration with important Florentine institutions and for undertaking major historic restoration projects on the occasion of the celebrated Exhibition of Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Painting at Palazzo Pitti in 1922. Alongside his institutional work, Rossi Vergara pursued a successful independent painting career, favoring atmospheric studies and river or landscape views, in which a Southern Italian approach to the study of light blends with an exceptionally soft and vibrant graphic technique.
The reverse of the painting bears a documentary detail of exceptional interest to collectors: a period inscription giving the original title, the artist's name, and the specific reference to the “III mostra di Napoli del 1945” (3rd Naples exhibition, 1945). Held the year after the artist's death, this prestigious exhibition makes the inclusion of this pastel a significant posthumous tribute, placing the work firmly within the cultural revival of Naples in the immediate postwar period.
The work is in good overall condition. The paper support shows the natural, even yellowing of age, consistent with the period of the work and with no tears or fungal damage. The pastel layer retains the liveliness and cohesion of the graphic pigments, while the frame preserves its splendid original gilding, patinated by age, with minimal, age-related wear along the edges that attests to its authenticity. Protected by its period glass, the painting requires no intervention and is ready to be featured in a catalog. The work measures 45 x 45 cm.
The painting is enhanced by a beautiful period square frame made of carved and gilded wood. The gilding has a beautiful antique patina; there is minimal, age-related wear on the outer edges and a few small historic retouches, which do not detract from the frame but rather attest to its authenticity and age (dimensions approx. 66 x 66 x 5 cm; defects present). The work is protected by period glass, which has preserved the pastel from airborne dirt and direct contact. The reverse retains its original backing and the valuable period documentary inscription (“III mostra di Napoli del 1945,” title and artist), which is perfectly legible and intact. “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 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 a valid reason to open a claim or request cancellation of the order.”

PROVENANCE: Private collection

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

As the work is fragile, it will be shipped in a wooden crate with polystyrene. In the event of a sale outside Italy, the buyer will need to allow time for the export formalities to be completed.