- 31
Ippolito Caffi
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
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Description
- Ippolito Caffi
- Fatima di Smirne
- titled, signed and dated Fatima di Smirne. Caffi 1843 lower left
- oil on canvas
- 85 by 69cm., 33½ by 27¼in.
Provenance
Ettore Viancini, Venice; (sale: Franco Semenzato, Venice, 16 May 1998, lot 264)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner
Condition
The canvas has not been lined, and there are six visible patches on the reverse. There is a pattern of craquelure overall and a faint stretcher mark. Ultraviolet light reveals scattered signs of retouching, notably in a circa 14 by 4cm 'U'-shape to the upper right of the figure's hat (patched on the reverse), a few vertical thin strokes in her hair, in and above her right hand, a circa 4 by 1cm area in the 'F' of the title and the background, and some other more minor scattered small areas and spots. The overall appearance of the work under normal light is good and it is ready to hang.
Presented in a decorative gilt frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Fatima di Smirne comes very close to a painting of 1839 by the Austrian Biedermeier painter Friedrich von Amerling (1803-87). It is possible that Caffi was copying Amerling directly or that both artists were working from a published print or photograph after a painting by another hand. While Caffi worked mainly in Rome and Venice, and became known for his views of those cities, the inspiration for the present work no doubt came from his only trip, in 1843, to Constantinople. Given that the painting is dated 1843 and that Caffi remained in Turkey until the following year, also taking in Ephesus and Smirna (Izmir), it is even likely that he painted it there. The journey also inspired the drawings by Caffi of Arab and Oriental women in the Museo Correr in Venice.