Antonio Cifrondi (1665-1730), Woman with a Hand Warmer

Antonio Cifrondi (1665-1730) Woman with a Hand Warmer Oil on canvas, 76 x 59 cm Born in the 17th century in Clusone, in the Seriana valley in the province of Bergamo, Antonio Cifrondi painted a large number of works, alternating the sacred with the profane, with a late-Baroque style. He was in Bologna around 1673, where he was a pupil of Marcantonio Franceschini (an echo of this association can be recognized in the David and Goliath of the Chamber of Deputies). In 1679, his presence is documented in Rome, then perhaps in Naples, Turin, and in France between Grenoble and Paris, coming into contact with the painting of the great masters of the past, but also with the experiences of contemporaries. Returning to his homeland around 1686, he worked feverishly until the end of his days in the Bergamo area, with a style recognizable for the lively use of color, the rapidity of the brushstroke, and the marked and almost caricatured features of the characters. In the second part of his activity, starting from the early 1700s, the palette becomes poorer. This typicality of production also characterizes the last phase of Cifrondi's production, which sees the painter active in Brescia, mainly dedicated to depicting beggars, according to models very close to those of the young Todeschini. The old woman portrayed here exudes a strong expressiveness, she is depicted while warming her hands inside a fur muff. The painting is characterized by a painting with warm tones, embellished with subtle passages and soft nuances. The figure emerges from the dark and uniform background with a play of light and shadow that enhances some details of her figure. The protagonist is portrayed through a sensitivity that translates into the transposition of a gesture with a veristic flavour, such as warming hands. Often within Cifrondi's paintings, one can find images of elderly men and women or of people portrayed during work. The main characteristic of these characters is that none of them laugh or smile: the only exceptions concern the author himself in his two self-portraits. A peculiarity of his modus operandi was given by the speed of execution, made possible thanks to the naturalness and ease with which he performed the works. This allowed the execution of a large number of paintings, scattered in the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia. The painter achieved considerable notoriety, so much so that he became one of the most requested in the area. The object is in good condition. With Ars Antiqua it is possible to postpone all amounts up to a maximum of € 7,500 at ZERO RATE, for a total of 15 INSTALLMENTS. Ex. Tot. € 4,500 = Monthly installment € 300 for 15 months. Ex. Tot. € 3,600 = Monthly installment € 720 for 5 months. For amounts exceeding € 7,500 or for a longer deferral (over 15 installments), we can provide a customized payment. Contact us directly for the best quote. LIVE TV – SUNDAY 7.00 PM – 11.00 PM Dig.terr. 126 + 809 SKY - THURSDAY 9.00 PM - 12.00 AM Dig.terr. 134 + 809 SKY – Streaming on our website www.arsantiquasrl.com and on our social media Facebook and Youtube All the works offered by Ars Antiqua are sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity in accordance with the law and an accurate in-depth sheet. You can see the works directly at the Milan showroom gallery, in via Pisacane 55 and 57. We personally organize transport and delivery of the works, both for Italy and abroad.