Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering for sale this relatively large watercolour, which has been beautifully painted by the Italian artist Alberto M. La Monaca. The painting depicts a very well dressed Spanish lady, wearing a black lace mantilla, with a matching lace flounce around the bottom of her pale peach dress. She is wearing a locket around her neck, as well as a long doubled string of beads and several bracelets on her left wrist. On the stone pillar behind her, there is an old poster for a bullfight. She is standing outside an open green door, and the first floor of the building has a long ornate wrought iron balcony.

The artist had a habit of writing the location of the painting, or where he was located when painting it, below his signature, and he has done so here. Unfortunately, the writing is so tiny that we have been unable to decipher it.

Alberto La Monaca 1862-1936, was an Italian artist about whom relatively little is known, although there may be more information available in Italian records. He painted portrait subjects and some landscapes in both oil and watercolours, although the watercolours predominate. He was also an illustrator of costumes and military studies. He is sometimes referred to as San Monaca, as the capital L of La is executed in a very ornate style.

After attending the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, he opened a studio at Via Flaminia 44, then at Via Boccaccio 9 and finally at Via Principe Amadeo at his home. He exhibited watercolours in 1883 at the exhibition of the Italian Watercolour Society, of which he was a Member.

There are a few auction results for works by this artist at the usual sites, where 2 watercolours each 14" x 10" and somewhat faded, achieved £1,080 at Christie's in 2006 and an oil of Venice 10" x 8" reached £2,106 at Christie's Rome in 2001.

The painting has been newly double mounted in acid-free mountboard and is newly framed in a 1 1/8" mottled gilt frame. It is ready to hang.

Image size: 14 1/2" x 10 5/8" - 36.8cm x 27cm

Frame size: 22 7/8" x 18 7/8" - 58cm x 48cm

Medium: Watercolours

Condition: Excellent condition with no fading or foxing. The mounts and frame are new.