(Adria/Rovigo 1834–1908 Triest)
A depiction of the fishing industry at the Adriatic sea - Comisa (Komiza, Vis island, Croatia), Vallegrande (Vela Luka, Korcula island, Croatia), Trappano (Trpanj, Croatia), Isola (Izola, Slovenia) – presented and framed by nymphs, putti, floral, elements, Venice in the right background, signed T. Agujari, pencil, watercolour on paper, 50 x 95 cm, mounted, framed, the frame slightly damaged, slightly wavy, (BH)

The fishing industry at the Adriatic Sea had great significance at the end of the 19th century. In 1861 Carl Warhanek from Vienna opened factories for fish processing in Rijeka and in Jelsa and in 1867 in Duino near Triest. In 1879 the Frenchman Emille Louis Roullet founded Delamaris company whose factory started its operations in Isola in 1881. Carl Warhanek opened a second factory in Isola in 1882. Other factories of Warhanek and of other entrepreneurs followed and were built in fishing villages at the Adriatic Sea such as Fasana, Comisa, Postira, Makarska, Capliana. In the factories eels and sardines were roasted, marinated and conserved in olive oil and put in tins. More than half of the entire production was sold abroad. Carl Warhanek was appointed k. u. k. Hoflieferanten (Imperial Royal court deliverer) in 1883 (www.malabarka.eu; www.delamaris.at/tradition; www.interfood.at/produkte/warhanek.)

Little is known about the painter Tito Agujari. He was born in Italy and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Agujari travelled to Triest where he settled and gave teaching lessons. The artist made study trips England and France and eventually died in Triest.