Italian Drawings

Italian painting from 20th century. Oil painting on canvas depicting an impressionist seascape of particular pictorial quality and pleasant decor. Wooden frame with fabric passe-part...

F. CEPPARULI (*1750) after VANNI (*1750), Temple on an Island in the Water, circa 1780 Copper engraving Francesco Cepparuli (before 1750 - after 1767 ) after Niccolo Vanni (before 1...

Italian oil painting on board from 20th century. Artwork depicting popular scene The Sunday game in Impressionist style. Artwork of excellent pictorial quality signed lower right (se...

Brutalist, abstract ink impression on tracing paper, masking taped to the back of a sheet of bond paper. Signed and dated 1952 lower left. Image size 7 3/4" x 5".

Silvio Gambini Italy, 1913 Art Nouveau Iron Gate Drawing on paper Wood Frame Artist Sign below on the right Size drawing: 27.5x39 Frame size: 77.5x61x2.5 cm Silvio Pellico Gamb...

G. B. Piranesi, in his fifties, was interested in archaeology and studied in Southern Italy where he produced drawings of Greek architecture. Medium: Etching on laid paper. Year: c...

White Bunny Drawing by Oleg Cassini for Playboy October 1979, Signed. Illustration of a woman wearing a white body suit, choker, and hat. Signed by Oleg Cassini. Notice the body suit is in the shape of the head of a bunny with clever use of the 'whiskers'. Approximate Measurements: Length: 11" Width: 14" Property from the Collection of Steven Rosengard, Chicago, Illinois This original drawing was commissioned by Playboy and included in the October 1979 issue of Playboy Magazine (pages 225-227) in a feature that included works from designers such as Bill Blass, Oleg Cassini, Edith Head, Fernando Sanchez, and Monika Tilley, among others, who create their versions of the Playboy bunny costume. Candace Collins can be seen modeling some of the designs in the feature. Oleg Cassini is an icon of twentieth-century fashion. Though born to Russian aristocracy and raised in Italy, he built a fashion empire that was unmistakably American. Cassini is perhaps best known for the hundreds of designs he created for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (see images 4-8), but his achievements as a collector, connoisseur, and quintessential twentieth-century man go far beyond Camelot. In 1913, Oleg Cassini was born in Paris to the Russian diplomat Count Alexander Loiewski and Countess Marguerite Cassini, a Russian aristocrat of Italian ancestry who also had an interesting link to America. The daughter of Count Arthur Cassini, Russian Ambassador to the United States during the McKinley and Roosevelt administrations, Marguerite dazzled turn-of-the-century Washington as her father’s official hostess and left her mark on the capital city. Stationed in Denmark when the Russian Revolution toppled the czar, Ambassador Cassini and family were exiled to Switzerland before settling in Florence, Italy, where young Oleg was raised. A true Renaissance man, he spoke Russian, French, and Danish before adding Italian and English; he studied medieval and modern European military history and costume and learned to draw; he learned horseback riding, fencing, and the art of chivalry; and, most importantly, he came to understand the struggles of the Russian titled class and other European aristocrats in the wake of the Russian Revolution and World War I. Countess Cassini started a successful fashion business in Florence, and soon the talented young Oleg was sent to Paris to sketch the latest collections for recreation in Italy. In Rome in his early 20s, Cassini created fashions for high society women and designed for a few films, which planted the seed for his move to Hollywood. The drive to reinvent himself brought Cassini to America in the 1930s; in his autobiography he describes arriving nearly penniless in mid-Depression New York City where his title as an exiled Russian Count meant even less than in war-devastated Europe. Down and out, Cassini struggled for employment, having sketching skills but no knowledge of the wholesale trade required for survival in Manhattan’s Seventh Avenue fashion district. However, he excelled at making connections, and Cassini slowly entered New York society. He was soon joined by younger brother Igor (who had studied in America and travelled with the young Emilio Pucci) and his parents, the once-dazzling Countess and his father, the displaced diplomat still loyal to Russia. The family settled in Washington, D.C., and Igor worked his way up the Hearst newspaper chain to become the famous society columnist Cholly Knickerbocker. In New York, Oleg Cassini married the troubled socialite Merry Fahrney (who would go on to marry eight times), but the marriage ended in scandal for Oleg, and he decided to follow his original intention and head for Hollywood. Despite initial difficulties, Cassini gained access to Hollywood’s elite (partially through his skills on the tennis court), and was soon hired as a designer at Paramount Pictures alongside the redoubtable Edith Head. In her 1941 film debut I Wanted Wings, Veronica Lake wore a memorable Cassini design. That same year, Cassini met and married the newest young Hollywood star on the scene, the beautiful 20th Century Fox–talent Gene Tierney. With the outbreak of World War II, Cassini enlisted in the Coast Guard but was transferred to the U.S. Army Cavalry which allowed officers of foreign birth. He attended basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and the horsemanship he learned as a boy served him greatly. He attended Officer Candidate School and reached the rank of First Lieutenant (he also became an American citizen at this time, losing his title of Count). Cassini spent several years posted at Fort Riley, where Tierney joined him before he landed a convenient military post in Hollywood. As Tierney’s career thrived (she played the title role in Otto Preminger’s Laura in 1944), she was able to assert her influence over 20th Century Fox’s head Daryl Zanuck, who hired Cassini as designer for Tierney on her 1946 film The Razor’s Edge, which proved to be a brilliant showcase for his talents. The pair separated the same year and, again seeking reinvention, Cassini re-established himself in New York City as a fashion designer. By 1950, the Oleg Cassini label was born. Combining his knowledge of Old World and modern Europe, Hollywood, the tennis courts of Palm Beach and Newport, and of course, New York City, Oleg Cassini invented a new brand of fashion that was distinctly American and of its moment. For his first collection, Cassini took to the stage, narrating the looks and imbuing the scene with his personality, unusual in an industry where the designers typically remained backstage and the models were called by number over a PA. The first collection was a smash — the president of Lord & Taylor devoted all of their storefront windows to his designs — and by 1955 sales had reached $5,000,000. Oleg Cassini’s career had turned a very positive corner. Cassini spent the early 1950s traversing the country, personally selling his collections to department stores in the interior, something his predecessors had never done, and moving between the Hollywood and New York scenes. Cassini’s brother Igor coined the term “the Jet Set” for this generation that constantly flew from New York to Los Angeles (then a ten-hour flight), Las Vegas, Paris, Rome, and the Riviera. In 1954, Cassini set out to woo Grace Kelly and sent her roses every day. The two were briefly engaged before her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco. In December 1960, Cassini’s career-defining opportunity came when he was chosen by Jacqueline Kennedy to design her fashions for the White House. Cassini had long known Joe Kennedy and his war-hero son John, and had first met Jacqueline Bouvier before her marriage in the early 1950s. Invited by President-Elect Kennedy to meet Jacqueline at Georgetown Hospital (she had just given birth to son John Jr.) to present to her drawings of potential dresses and First Lady looks, Cassini worked furiously to prepare a new line for the First Lady. Mrs. Kennedy had always had her clothes made by the top French couturiers of the day, but for the White House she wanted an American designer. Cassini wrote in his autobiography that he told the First Lady: “‘You have an opportunity here,’ I said, ‘for an American Versailles.’ She understood completely what I was trying to communicate; she began to talk excitedly about the need to create an entirely new atmosphere at the White House. She wanted it to become the social and intellectual capital of the nation” (Oleg Cassini, In My Own Fashion, 1987, p. 327). Mrs. Kennedy loved Cassini’s design for a gown to wear to the Inaugural Gala (she had already ordered a dress from Bergdorf’s for the Inaugural Ball), and Cassini was selected as the First Lady’s designer and was soon dubbed the “Secretary of Style.” From 1960 to 1963, Oleg Cassini would design over 300 items for Mrs. Kennedy, creating the “Jackie Look” that contributed not only to a fashion revolution but also the dawn of a new age. Cassini wrote that “Jackie played a very active role in the selection of her clothes. She loved brilliant colors — pistachio, hot pink, yellow, and white among others. Her sense of style was very precise; she would make editorial comments on the sketches I sent her. She always knew exactly what she wanted; her taste was excellent” (Oleg Cassini, In My Own Fashion, 1987, p. 334). After the Camelot years, Cassini’s business flourished and grew into a major industry; his name appeared on everything from couture to tennis-, sport-, and swimwear, car interiors, housewares, and perfume. He collected beautiful and rare artwork, arms and armor, and antique furniture, and lived the lifestyle projected by his image. From this period onward, Cassini also came to live in important homes. Of his Gothic Gramercy Park townhouse on Manhattan’s 19th Street he would write imaginatively, “I walked into the foyer and immediately fell in love. It was a place unlike any other in New York, a sixteenth-century Dutch house transported brick by brick from Europe by the Wells Fargo family in the early twentieth century. There was a vaulted, twenty-foot ceiling in the living room, leaded windows, elegantly carved wood paneling...

Set of four studies of archaeological excavations of the 18/19th in Nola and Sicily. Nola is known to be a city at 20 km from Pompeii, very famous for its archaeological wealth. The ...

This work likely Italian dates from circa 1680-1700. It relates directly to a 16th century engraving of the same subject after a drawing by Giul...

Beautiful etching of a Vatican sculpture by Italian artist Piranesi. Great addition to your architectural and classic inspired interiors.

Architectural drawing in red pencil on paper, depicting a design for a tabernacle gate with the words "Ave Maria" in the center, crowned with floral motifs and kneeling angels. The w...

Pencil drawing by Riccardo Cavigioli in the early 1920s representing a two-seat biplane airplane for reconnaissance Brandenburg C I of 1916. Measure with frame cm 58 x 31, inch 23 x ...

The pair of gouaches with views of a volcanic eruption during the day and the night

Tuscan landscape with bridge over a stream and peasant women Signed "E. Donnini", bottom right Gilded frame Oil on canvas, cm H83,5 x W60 Emilio Donnini (Florence, 1809 - Florence, 1886) was an Italian painter. There is no information regarding Donnini's pictorial training, whose documented activity, exercised in his Florentine studio in via del Maglio, began in 1843, the year in which he participated in the exhibition of the Florentine Promoter Society with View of a river with a bridge. Regular frequenter of the Caffè Michelangiolo, the meeting place of Macchiaioli painters, he regularly participates in the exhibitions organized by the Florentine Promoter Society of Fine Arts, starting from 1845 with Country of invention and View of a mill near Pisa and in 1847 with a series of views of Versilia. In the same year, his friend Antonio Puccinelli portrayed him in the Portrait of the painter Emilio Donnini: with the Pisan, Donnini shares patriotic and irredentist ideals and in all likelihood participates in the uprisings of 1848. In this period he approaches the Markò family, with whom he frequently moves between the Island of Elba, the Lazio and Tuscan countryside to paint landscapes en plein air, in the Macchiaioli way. In 1848 he painted Glimpses of Vicopisano, in 1849 he participated in the Promoter with a View of the Valdarno near Docciola, in 1850 with Marciana, View in the outlines of Seravezza and Marciana Marina. In 1852 he painted a marina for the walls of the Caffè Michelangiolo, in 1853 he participated in the Promoter with the Porto Lungone beach, Civitavecchia beach and Tramonto di sole sul mare. Starting from 1854 he is part of the artists of the Scuola di Staggia with the Markò, Serafino De Tivoli, Carlo Ademollo, Alessandro La Volpe, Lorenzo Gelati and Saverio Altamura and, in the same year, he was awarded by the Promoter for the Marina di Livorno paintings at the Ponte alla Sassara, Marina near Marciana with sun effect and View of a lake with sunset. In 1855 he participated in the Promotrice with Marina with boats, A road of Mugello near Vicchio, The furnaces of Prince Corsini in the Valdarno and Lo stradone del Gombo, in 1856 with Campagne Senesi, in 1857 with Paese del Mugello with bather, in 1858 he was awarded the Silver medal with A morning on the sea, where he also exhibits Country near Pisa, The mountains of Marciana, Rio beach...

This very fine drawing from the early Baroque period is in Sanguine on laid paper. this Italian drawing in a rich brown-red is framed in a fine old gilded frame...

Painting from the series "Trophies," Piero Fornasetti, Italy, 1970, silkscreen on lacquered wood with brass frame, decorative elements inspired by neoclassical motifs, Fornasetti sig...

Canvas art created by conceptual art artist under the pseudonym BomberBax from 2020. The artist always elaborates in his paintings the strong concept of the artistic evolution of Cry...

A painting containing an ancient anatomical drawing of an hand, made in pencil and sanguine. The contemporary frame, Empire style, made of wood, ven...

2.nd Half of the 18th cenutury, hand-colored The pictures are showing dance scenes based on Etrukian vase painting.

Venetian Capriccio, after Francesco Guardi (Italian, 1712-1793) Unsigned, with a label from Wandenberg Freres (Paris) affixed to the back of the mat.

Italian Painting from the 1960s: Accademia di Belle Arti, Venezia.Overall, charcoal drawing is a dynamic and expressive medium that offers artists a wide range of creative possibilit...

Two panoramic engravings of Italian cityscapes by ports.

Marker on paper.

Stunning Midcentury pen ink drawing of a dark haired woman with a floral bouquet, dressed in black restored in its original black frame. A striking image by an unknown a...

Italian pen and ink landscape. Antique pen and ink scene of a villa along the river in period gilt frame, Italy, early 19th century. Dimension: 1...

Ugo La Pietra, " Bosco In Citta' " Acrylic on Canvas, 2015 Signed and Dated by Artist on front and rear. Coded and Archived by Ugo La Pietra Archives. Certificate of Authenticity av...

Mid-Century Modern Italian abstract painting on paper with wooden structure from 1970 The paper of the paint shows little signs of wear cons...

A Double-sided Drawing: Studies of a Man Holding a Horn Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist, and study for an Ecce Homo Black chalk on buff paper 14 3/4″ high x 10 3/8″ wi...

Two costume drawings for a production of "L'Incoronazione du Poppea." Watercolor and ink on paper. Matted and framed in white painted wood with glass....

Decorate an office, study, or library with this elegant antique etching depicting one of Rome’s most significant landmarks. Hand-colored in Italy circa 1775, this detailed black-and-...

Pen Drawing on Paper, "The Birth of Venus" Vincenzo Camuccini. Pen drawing on paper, mounted on an album leaf, "The Birth of Venus" by Vincenzo Camuccini, late 18th century, early 1...

Drawings, one representing San Geremia on the Grand Canal, the other La Salute on the Grand Canal. Both drawings are in a style evocative of Francesco Guardi (1712-1793) specialist o...

Ugo La Pietra, "Dal Giardino delle Delizie" acrylic on canvas, 2016 Signed and Dated by Artist on front and rear. Coded and Archived by Ugo La Pietra Archives. Certificate of Au...

Blue print of the republic Veneto .Combinated art techniques on canvas and Pergament paper.           

Remarkable artwork by Ugo La Pietra. Wood frame and handwritten inscription on the back.

2nd Half of the 18th cenutury, hand-colored The pictures are showing dance scenes based on Etrukian vase painting.

Remarkable artwork by Ugo La Pietra. Wood frame and handwritten signature on the front.

French Charcoal painting on paper of Beaumarchais in wooden frame, mid 1800s Charcoal painting on paper depicting Pierre-Augustin Caron de Bea...

Decorate a study, library, or office with this antique Italian engraving, hand-colored and printed circa 1770. Presented under protective glass in a black and gilt frame with linen m...

Ugo La Pietra, " Genius Loci' " Acrylic on Canvas, 2018 Signed and Dated by Artist on front and rear. Coded and Archived by Ugo La Pietra Archives. Certificate of Authenticity a...

Italian antique Picture pencil drawing on paper of a man, in wooden frame, 1900s Fantastic pencil drawing on paper, representing a walking man in a coat with a hat and walking stick ...

Italian modern shades of grey and black abstract painting by Dova with passpartout and wooden frame, 1980s Abstract painting in shades of grey, blue and black with white passpartout...

Group of 4 (individual) lithographs of important men of their day. Finely detailed. Framed and matted with bone linen matte. Silver-leafed frames. 21 available.

17th century, pair of ink drawings on paper with studies for grotesques, friezes and helmets. Painter of central Italy of the 17th century, signed with monogram “A.M.”. Measurements: cm L 45.5 x H 59.5 x 5.5; cm 22 x 33 / cm L 46.5 x H 59 x 5.5; cm 22.5 x 31.5 The pair of sheets, in good condition, is framed by antique frames in carved and gilded wood. They show some china studies with some studies for different subjects. Specifically, the first sheet represents the design of a frieze of Renaissance taste under which are some studies probably referring to a family coat of arms. Below the center is a monogram “A.M.”. The sheet is also worked on the back in which are drawn some articulated elements of decoration in the style of the Renaissance grotesque...

ST/724 - "Amphoras and mugs" : a modern taste for this beautiful unusual Italian watercolor signed ...Scribani and dated April 1965.

A great figurative study from a great school - The Roman Academy of Fine Art

charcoal nude study

Antique 18th century Italian city people drawing with gilt frame The measurement is from the drawing.  

Paolo Sala (Lombardy, Italy, 1859–1924) Parliament Square, London Watercolor on Paper, Signed A finely executed watercolor depicting Parliament Square in L...

A painting containing an ancient anatomical drawing of an upper limb, made in pencil and sanguine. The contemporary frame, Empire style, made of wood, veneered in mahogany essence, e...

Lorenzo Rocchegianni Italian engraving "Marte" Measures: 65cm x 45cm with frame Very good condition.

Antique portrait with golden frame, depicting an ancestor of a noble family. hand-drawn and hand-made by an artist who signs himself: A. Laugien, dated 1851. Measures cm W 125 x H 170 x D 17. Precious gilded frame, entirely hand-sculpted. Interesting piece of furniture to embellish the walls of the most beautiful rooms...

Ugo La Pietra, " Giardino Delle Delizie' " Acrylic on Canvas, 2018 Signed and dated by Artist on front and rear. Coded and Archived by Ugo La Pietra Archives. Certificate of Aut...

Line drawing America by Alberto Longoni, Italy, 1965. Ink on paper. Measures: H 97 cm/ 38 1/4'' W 65 cm/ 25 1/2''.

Ugo La Pietra, "Territorialita'" acrylic on canvas, 2013 Signed and dated by artist on front and rear. Coded and archived by Ugo La Pietra archives. "Certificate of Authenticity" av...

Ugo La Pietra, " Genius Loci' " Acrylic on Canvas, 2009 Signed and Dated by Artist on front and rear. Coded and Archived by Ugo La Pietra Archives. Certificate of Authenticity a...

Ugo La Pietra, "Genius Loci'" Acrylic on canvas, 2009 Signed and dated by Artist on front and rear. Coded and archived by Ugo La Pietra Archives. Certificate of authenticity ava...

Italian modern colored tempera work of art painted signed by G. Maffei, 1970s Abstract painting in tempera, painted with thick brushstroke with various colors, with chromed steel frame. Work signed by G. Maffei, around 1970. Good conditions. Measures in cm 54x4x54cm Beautiful painting, with large brushstrokes and numerous colors. The particularity of blue contrasts perfectly with the frame which makes this work of art even more important and unique. Dating back to the seventies, with this work you will feel like taking a leap...

Vintage print dating back to the seventies, Italian production. The print has a geometric design made with bright colors. The frame is in white wood, the print is protected by a tr...

Italian mid-century PicturePastel and watercolor drawing in wooden frame, 1954 Fantastic pastel and watercolor drawing on paper, representing a person wrapped in a large blue dress with a whimsical...