Antique Italian Genre Scene Oil Painting "Shoe Shiner" Cobbler by Ezio Ricci Gilded Florentine Frame, Circa 1910

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A good antique Italian genre scene oil painting on canvas, Ezio Ricci (1885-1968), "The Shoe Shiner", circa 1910.
The painting … Read more A good antique Italian genre scene oil painting on canvas, Ezio Ricci (1885-1968), "The Shoe Shiner", circa 1910.
The painting depicts a very happy older gentleman, who seems to be a cobbler and is polishing a boot. Ezio Ricci used this figure in many of his works, evidently it was someone he knew, maybe a family member? The painting is signed upper right and is housed in the original fine quality gilded & carved Florentine frame. Condition is very good; both the frame & painting are in very good condition. This finely rendered painting is ready to hang on your wall.
17" x 13" at sight without frame
Born in Lucca, a pupil at the local Istituto di Belle Arti, Ezio Ricci showed an early talent for real life painting, as can be seen in works such as “Donne che pregano” (Praying Women), painted in 1903, and “Ritratto della nonna” (Portrait of my grandmother), 1907. In 1916 he was appointed professor of the decorative arts at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Perugia, where he spent seven years working hard but happily. Some of his best works date to this period, with subjects taken from the family and home, indicative of his discovery of an intimate style. A good example is the large “Interno” (Interior), 1922, which shows a young woman quietly doing her embroidery with a vase of marguerites nearby. In 1923 he returned to Lucca to teach as professor of the decorative arts at the Istituto di Belle Arti that following the Gentile Reform of art education became the Istituto d’Arte. His style shows his new interest in the 20th century movement “Contadinelle toscane” (Young Peasant Women from Tuscany), 1925. But most of his works dating to this period are in private collections and have been lost. In 1929 he obtained the post of professor of mural painting and director of the Istituto d’Arte, the latter post he kept until 1961. At the same time as teaching Ezio Ricci continued to paint and during the 50’s exhibited at numerous exhibitions all over Italy. Of note are the 1923 Turin Quadrennial, the 1926 “Esposizione Nazionale di Roma”, the “Mostra Regionale d’Arte
Toscana di Firenze” in 1931 and 1942 and the 1955 “Mostra internazionale d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma”. In addition, he was given many personal exhibitions in Lucca the last of which was a posthumous showing in 1980. His paintings are housed in galleries & museums globally. See less