19th Century Portrait Anthony Van Dyck Oil Antique

Description

RARE FIND! This is a truly remarkable Antique 19th Century Oil on Canvas Portrait of Anthony van Dyck. It appears … more RARE FIND! This is a truly remarkable Antique 19th Century Oil on Canvas Portrait of Anthony van Dyck. It appears to be the work of Italian artist, Carlo Pittara (1835-1891). On the back it is signed in pencil. Part of the signature has worn off, but the remaining pieces appear to match Pittara's known signatures. Beneath the signature is the "Van Dyck", which refers to the subject of the painting - Flemish artist, Anthony van Dyck.

It is a stunning portrait with a lovely use of light and dark. The detail is wonderful. It is set in what looks like the original oval frame with ornate detailing. We are selling it as found and untouched, but recommend a professional cleaning and new varnish to really bring it to life. A fantastic gem for the collector.

Condition: Very good. Very fine antique oil in original oval frame. Painting is untouched and needs cleaning/varnish. Frame has two significant cracks.

Measurements: Painting is approx 8.5"x7" and it is approx 12"x10.5" framed.

About the Artist: Carlo Pittara (1835 – 1891) was an Italian painter who specialized in animals, pastoral landscapes, rivers and peasants at work. He was also the leader of what came to be known as the "Scuola di Rivara". He was born Turin. He began his studies at Accademia Albertina, where he worked with the landscape painter Giuseppe Camino. In 1856, he moved Geneva and studied with Charles Humbert (1813–1881), who specialized in animal paintings.

From 1858 to 1860, he lived in Paris, where he became familiar with the works of Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot and Charles Jacque. He also came under the influence of the Barbizon school. After that, he spent three years in Rome. Later, he became the leader of a group of landscape painters who met during the summers near Rivara, in the Canavese to paint en plein aire. This group consisted of artists who worked in both the Romantic and Realism styles, including Ernesto Bertea, Alberto Issel, Serafín Avendaño, Ernesto Rayper and Federigo Pastoris referred to as the "Scuola di Rivara". Some were also members of a group known as the as the "Scuola grigia", centered in Liguria.

During the last ten years of his life, he spent the winters in Paris, where his work began to take Impressionist overtones. He died in Rivara in 1891. After his death,Telemaco Signorini questioned his role in establishing the Scuola di Rivara, suggesting that Rayper was actually the focus of the group's inspiration. Pittara was, in fact, largely forgotten until 1947, when the "Galleria Fogliato" in Turin presented 88 of his canvases. less