Review of Vighi portrait

   Many years ago when I was teaching photography,  classes were asked to arrange portrait compositions by adding objects and even selecting poses indicative of the subjects interests, personality.  The object of course is for the viewer to immediately gain understanding without knowing the individual, or seeing the title.
   So our subject for today is Cagnaccio di San Pietro's portrait of Signora Vighi for 1930 - 36.
Let us examine the image by what the artist allows us to see.

    First:   what is in the painting?   A woman is sitting in a chair with a book on her lap.  Behind her and next to her on the floor are a couple of brocade pillows. On her side table is what looks to be a little toy chicken and dog!   Now why have they been included?  Knowing nothing of Ms. Vighi we have to assume she could be involved with animals somehow, and maybe children.  Maybe these toys represent her two kids?   We don't know, but including the toys in the image provides a lighter tone to the painting.  I think I would like her.
   Just like a painting reviewed last week, this one is based on a complementary color harmony, red-orange to blue-green, however there are additions of yellow.  I find the most interesting thing about the composition is her pose, how she is seated with her legs and feet pointing straight out at us.   As a painter, this is extremely difficult - to construct a figure in proper proportion so it looks natural.   It is very easy to make those legs and feet huge in comparison with the torso.  In this painting the long red dress, properly draped, seems to ease the problem for she looks perfect.
   Now most important:   What is happening here?  She has the book midway open, looking up from her reading.  She is not in a relaxed, reclining reading position, but alert.   Something has just happened.  Notice she is not looking at us.  She is not engaged with us.   We are only a viewer, allowed to enter this sudden moment when something has taken her away from her reading.  Her facial expression is steady, as if she is intently listening - not really sad, but certainly serious.
   The only other clue is her clothing.   Her long beautiful dress with matching shoes is not a normal "around the house" costume. So we can only assume she will or has been out for the day.
    I hope you have enjoyed looking at this fabulous painting with me.  PLEASE send your thoughts and comments - maybe you have a different opinion?!
    Make Art a part of your day, it's a beautiful thing to do.

Comments

  1. JudithMarie5April 14, 2019 at 7:16 AM

    This is one of those curious 1930s works of art. Looking up the artist, I found this: Cagnaccio di San Pietro was born in 1897 under the name of Natale Scarpa and was a painter with a strong connection to Venice. Indeed, he moved from his homeland, Desenzano del Garda, to the island of Pellestrina – in the San Pietro district, to which he owed part of its pseudonym – and died in Venice in 1946. Besides, he took the inspiration for his name, Cagnaccio (“bad dog”) from the nickname given to his grandparents by neighbors who were not particularly fond of their rowdy dog.

    As the Portrait of Signora Vighi proves, Cagnaccio’s favorite subjects were everyday life and still lifes which he painted paying extreme attention to details. This sometimes resulted in a dramatic effect, an alienation from reality. This is why he is considered as one of the Magic-Realism artists, among which Edward Hopper and Frida Kahlo.

    Who knew?

    ReplyDelete

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