(Naples 1860–1949)
Portrait of the Marchetti Daughter (?), signed, inscribed All’Egregio Dottore G. A. Marchetti per riconoscenza, V. Irolli, oil on canvas, 81 x 56 cm, framed, (GG)

Vincenzo Irolli started his studies at the age of seventeen at the Institute of Fine Arts in Naples where he studied under Gioacchino Toma (1836-1891) and Federico Maldarelli (1826-1893). From his first public appearance in 1879 until the end of the century, he exhibited at the Promotrice Napoletana with success. The Italian literary movement Verismo became established during the same period, and Irolli became one of its protagonists. His aim was to transfer the works of the poets to canvas, with depictions of the everyday life and struggles of the working class. Towards the 1930s Irolli’s stylistic and iconographic interests changed; in 1936 he even focused on religious themes celebrating the life of Christ, and presented 10 large paintings at the exhibition of sacral art at the Sala della Minerva in Naples. La Comunione (see lot 1159) presented in this catalogue is one of these works.

Irolli produced a large body of work and is best remembered for his Neapolitan market scenes and their colourful representations of the local population. He is considered one of the most popular Neapolitan artists at the turn of the century, his unique style characterized by the effects of light, ensuring his reputation in the international art world.

His vibrant use of colour and spontaneous brushwork can also be seen in the four oil paintings presented in this sale (see lots 1153–1158) which were painted between 1930 and 1939.

The portrait of a girl on a white cushion in the present lot is assumed to be Marchetti’s daughter and is a very fine example of how the artist succeeds in depicting his young and smiling model. The bright white surface of the cushion and the young girl’s blouse juxtaposed against the background colour creates an extraordinary lighting effect.

Provenance:
Private collection Italy

additional picture:
Selfportrait, Private Collection