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Gerolamo IndunoMusic Lesson Italian Romanticism Neo-Rococo Oil Painting Gerolamo Induno1871
1871
$129,705.51
£95,000
€111,752.45
CA$180,608.43
A$194,053.70
CHF 104,109.42
MX$2,286,176.27
About the Item
Music Lesson Italian Romanticism Neo-Rococo Oil Painting Gerolamo Induno
Italian, 1871
Canvas: Height 64cm, width 86cm
Frame: Height 89cm, width 110cm, depth 10cm
This exceptional piece is the work of Gerolamo Induno (1825–1890), recognized as one of 19th-century Italy’s most adaptable and perceptive painters. Initially celebrated for his vivid portrayals of the Risorgimento, informed by his own experiences as both soldier and artist, Induno later broadened his focus to include elegant and evocative genre scenes. ‘The Music Lesson’, created in 1871, belongs to this more intimate and reflective period of his career, showcasing a deliberate move away from patriotic themes toward meticulously crafted, historically inspired interior tableaux.
The painting’s subject - a charming, anecdotal domestic scene imagined in an 18th-century setting - derives from the French Rococo tradition. Pioneers such as François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard popularized depictions of music, courtship, and refined social life, often laced with subtle irony or playful sensuality. By the latter half of the 19th century, this neo-Rococo style experienced renewed popularity among Europe’s bourgeoisie, who sought refinement and escapism following decades of political unrest. Italian artists like Induno embraced these conventions, marrying technical precision with narrative elegance and a distinctly modern psychological insight.
In ‘The Music Lesson’, a richly appointed interior frames a young music tutor seated at a harpsichord, his attention turned toward his pupil rather than the instrument itself. The student, dressed in a striking red gown, stands intimately close, her expression simultaneously flirtatious and self-aware. At the right, an elderly chaperone dozes in her chair, cradling a small dog, seemingly oblivious to the subtle drama unfolding nearby. Induno orchestrates the composition to guide the viewer’s gaze through a triangular arrangement of glances and gestures, transforming an ostensibly innocent lesson into a moment of suspended tension and allure.
Symbolism deepens the narrative: music here represents harmony, desire, and emotional resonance, while the act of instruction provides a pretext for intimacy. The small dog, a traditional emblem of loyalty, turns away from the pair, hinting at the uncertainty or impermanence of their connection. The sleeping chaperone underscores themes of concealment and indulgence, while her presence preserves the scene’s outward decorum. Notably, a musical score by Domenico Cimarosa, dated 1800, features prominently. Cimarosa, celebrated for his opera buffa, combined comedic elements with social commentary, and the reference to his work Artemisia - an opera exploring a queen’s encounters with persistent suitors - adds a layer of ironic sophistication, reflecting tensions between desire, authority, and restraint.
The painting is signed and dated in the lower left corner, ‘Germo Induno / 1871’. An old exhibition label on the reverse confirms the artist and title, while the stretcher bears the inscription ‘In Tempo di Pace’. The canvas is presented in an ornate giltwood frame, elaborately carved to complement the historical character of the work and amplify its theatrical impact.
This substantial and intriguing piece is notable not only for its scale and craftsmanship but also for its significance within Induno’s body of work.
Provenance:
- Giacinto Motta (1870–1943) (according to the 1933 exhibition catalogue, see below)
- Then passed down within the family, at least until 1945 (according to G. Nicodemi, 1945, see below)
- Anonymous sale, Sotheby’s, Milan, 13 December 2004, lot 170, sold for €143,080.
Literature:
- G. Nicodemi, Domenico and Gerolamo Induno, Milan, 1945, p. IV, no. 162, reproduced in black and white, plate 162
Exhibited:
- Milan, Castello Sforzesco, Retrospective Exhibition of Domenico and Gerolamo Induno, 1933, no. 93 (incorrectly dated 1861)
- Creator:Gerolamo Induno (1825 - 1890, Italian)
- Creation Year:1871
- Dimensions:Height: 35.04 in (89 cm)Width: 43.31 in (110 cm)Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 180791stDibs: LU674317498282
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