Giovanni Servi, Interior Scene with Pope in the Act of Investiture, 1800s, Watercolor on Paper

Details

Description

Giovanni Servi (1795/1800 – 1885)Watercolor on paper, signed and dedicatedDimensions: 57 × 43 cm (watercolor); 80 × 67 cm (framed)Italy, … Read more Giovanni Servi (1795/1800 – 1885)Watercolor on paper, signed and dedicatedDimensions: 57 × 43 cm (watercolor); 80 × 67 cm (framed)Italy, second half of the 19th centuryRefined watercolor signed lower left “Gio Servi”, accompanied by a handwritten dedication, attributable with good certainty to the painter Giovanni Servi, a Venetian artist active in Milan and known for his production in a historical-romantic style, often inspired by emblematic episodes of Italian and European history.The work, created with a loose and luminous technique, depicts an interior scene most likely set in a papal palace, as confirmed by the clearly visible presence of the papal coat of arms with a tiara and crossed keys, placed above an important portal in the background. At the center of the composition, a seated Pope in white robes is captured in the act of signing or handing over a document to a young nobleman in elegant Renaissance dress, accompanied by a prelate or ecclesiastical dignitary. The solemn gesture, the presence of a sword placed on the pontiff's knees, and the ceremonial arrangement of the figures suggest a moment of official investiture or solemn assignment, perhaps of a military or diplomatic nature. The scene is completed by several figures in the background—a man and a woman—who appear to be witnessing the event with a sympathetic attitude. On the walls, furnishings and paintings are visible, including a painting depicting Christ walking on water, underscoring the spiritual and symbolic dimension of the scene. The work appears like a finished sketch or preparatory study, with clearly visible pencil lines and some areas deliberately left unfinished, particularly on the faces and clothing. This choice gives the work an intimate and narrative character, highlighting the pictorial gesture and the underlying compositional structure. Condition: Fair overall condition. Traces of humidity and stains are noted, particularly along the marginal edges and under the passe-partout, likely due to rising damp. Some areas of the paper are slightly browned or altered. Conservation work is recommended, including replacing the mat with an acid-free material and having it evaluated by a restorer specializing in works on paper. Frame: Contemporary gilded and profiled wooden frame, in good condition. Overall dimensions with frame: 80 × 67 cm. See less