Signed Italian Post Impressionist Painting of Harness Racing by A. Chierichetti

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On offer is an original mid-20th-century impressionistic oil painting depicting a harness racing scene, heavily indicative of European—most likely Italian—origin … Read more On offer is an original mid-20th-century impressionistic oil painting depicting a harness racing scene, heavily indicative of European—most likely Italian—origin from the 1950s or 1960s.

SUBJECT: The painting portrays a driver in a traditional two-wheeled cart called a sulky, pulled by a trotting horse. In the background, you can see a spectator fence and figures gathered to watch the race. Harness racing has historical roots across Europe, particularly in Italy where it is known as “corse al trotto,” making it a popular subject for regional mid-century sports and leisure art.

STYLE: The work uses a post-impressionistic style. The artist relies on broad, energetic and visible palette-knife or thick brushwork to construct the figures, trees and sky rather than fine lines. The canvas utilizes a dominant scheme of muted greens and creamy earthy tones, offset by high-contrast pops of primary color—specifically the vibrant red and yellow silks worn by the drivers. This intentional contrast directs the eye straight to the figures.

ARTIST: The canvas is clearly signed A. Chierichetti in the lower right corner. The Surname: "Chierichetti" is an explicitly Italian surname native to the Lombardy region, specifically around Milan. A. Chierichetti is classified as a listed European decorative artist of the 20th century. Artists of this tier frequently produced scenic landscapes, horse races and village scenes for regional galleries, exhibitions, or commercial export to high-end furniture and decor showrooms during the post-WWII boom.

FRAME: The painting is housed in a substantial, ornate Louis XV-style giltwood frame measuring a dramatic 2.5 inches deep. This frame adds significantly to confirming the mid-century timeline. Between the frame and the painting sits a fabric linen liner. This specific framing choice—pairing an ornate antique-style gold frame with an interior cloth liner—was the definitive standard for framing fine art oils in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The back of the frame features brown backing paper with a wire hanger typical of professional commercial framing houses from the mid-to-late 20th century.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Lower right corner (photo #7). Image dimensions: 23 inches high x 35 inches wide. See less