Pietro Longhi, 'An Interior with Three Women and a Seated Man', probably 1750-5
About the work
Overview
Pietro Longhi is best known for his small-scale paintings that give a glimpse inside the houses of middle-class Venetians and show people engaging in the activities of polite society. We don't know what this painting depicts, though it might be a scene from a play. In an elegant room, a servant hands a plate of food and a spoon to a man. Standing nearby are two young women dressed in beautiful gowns. They hold hands, and one of them points towards the seated man.
Prominently displayed on the wall behind is an engraved portrait by Andrea Zucchi of Gerardo Sagredo, who was elected Procurator of San Marco in 1718 (the most prestigious office in the Republic of Venice after that of Doge). The scene could be set in the Palazzo ​Sagredo, Gerardo’s family home, and could show an act of charity towards an old man in need of a meal. Gerardo had two daughters, who may be the young women depicted here.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- An Interior with Three Women and a Seated Man
- Artist
- Pietro Longhi
- Artist dates
- 1701 - 1785
- Date made
- probably 1750-5
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 61.3 × 49.5 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1881
- Inventory number
- NG1100
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Michael Levey, ‘ÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â Catalogues: The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Italian Schools’, London 1986; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
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1956Levey, Michael, ÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â Catalogues: The Eighteenth Century Italian Schools, London 1956
-
1986Levey, Michael, ÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â Catalogues: The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Italian Schools, London 1986
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, ÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the ÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â Library.
Images
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