(Venice 1854–1929 San Remo)
Self-Portrait, signed, dated F. Zonaro (19)14, oil on canvas, 60.6 x 50.7 cm, framed, (GG)

Provenance:
Acquired by the father of the current owner in 1979 at the exhibition in Piazzola sul Brenta;
thence by descent to the present owner;
European private collection.

Exhibited:
Piazzola sul Brenta (Padova), Villa Simes Contarini, Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery, Fausto Zonaro retrospective exhibition, 30 September-11 November 1979, no.99.

We are grateful to Erol Makzume for confirming the authenticity of this work on the basis of a photo.

Fausto Zonaro devoted his artistic career to depicting scenes of Constantinople. Many of his paintings show the daily activities of its inhabitants, the dervishes, scribes and fishermen. He frequently painted outdoor scenes. Zonaro was appointed court painter to Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1876-1909. He made a major contribution to the development of western art in Turkey.
The present lot shows the artist at the height of his career, full frontal, wearing a pair of glasses, pointed beard and a Fez.
His intense gaze attracts and hold our attention. He portrays himself dressed in a rich black costume. It is a wonderful work, infused with character and charisma. There are only a limited number of self-portraits by Zonaro of this quality. One was sold in these rooms on 8 April 2014 (lot 38). Another is held in a private collection, and the third is the present lot.