Airoldi, Still Life of Peonies, 1924, Oil on Canvas

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Still life of peonies, airoldi, 1924, oil on canvas, depicting a floral composition of pink peonies in a vase, signed … Read more Still life of peonies, airoldi, 1924, oil on canvas, depicting a floral composition of pink peonies in a vase, signed and dated lower right by the lombard painter b. Ajroldi 1924. Bice ajroldi di robbiate (milan 1869 – carimate, como 1955).

a showy and lush floral composition, where the peony is the undisputed protagonist. Rendered with quick brushstrokes, the work skillfully contrasts the exuberant colors of the flowers against the dark background with barely hinted elements, a glimpse from a window on the left, a mirror with a console table on the right; the twisted vase itself and the supporting surface are inanimate elements, appearing in the background, shadowy, as if they should not interfere with the true protagonist of the painting, the peony.

an elegant and ancient flower that embodies love, affection, prosperity, and nobility of soul, the peony is known as the rose without thorns, a symbol of romantic love stories but also a symbol of good luck, auspiciousness, and good fortune.

bice ajroldi di robbiate, a baroness of noble origin, was born in milan on february 8, 1869.
a student of paolo sala, she exhibited at the permanente in milan in 1916 and in subsequent years presented her works at the società promotrice di belle arti in milan.
she was a painter of still lifes featuring vases of flowers in dusty, opaque colors and sweeping seascapes, exhibited at important group exhibitions, including the permanente in milan (editions of 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923) and the società di belle arti (1930).
in 1917, she exhibited nel mio studio and fiori at the galleria pesaro in milan as part of the first annual exhibition of the lombardy artistic federation.
in 1931, she participated in the first trade union exhibition in sanremo, and in 1933, in the exhibition of the fascist interprovincial union of fine arts in liguria, the first provincial exhibition and the fourth art exhibition promoted by the municipality of sanremo, presenting: murano glass, zinnias, rose, violet, aurora carnations, and spring flowers.
in 1938, bice ajroldi di robbiate participated in the exhibition of the society of fine arts and permanent exhibition in milan, exhibiting the paintings white and lilac carnations and pink carnations.
bice ajroldi di robbiate often stayed in western liguria, particularly enchanted by the beauty of the alassio coast.
in alassio, she met and frequented emilio gola.
in gola's painting "on the beach," the likeness of baroness ajroldi can be seen in the two bathers depicted alongside her friend mimina brichetto.
e. Gola, on the beach. Baroness ajroldi and mimina brichetto, 1919.
his love for views of the sea and the ligurian coast is evidenced by the exquisite painting view of the gulf of savona. See less