Scene of Cardinal and Ladies
Collection: Houston Public Library (HPL)
19th Century
Oil on Canvas
Location:
Houston Public Library Central Branch Art Vault
500 McKinney St
Houston, TX 77002
About the Artwork:
Scene of Cardinal and Ladies (c. 19th century)
by R. Vigna
This piece painted with oil on canvas by artist “R. Vigna.” is titled “Scene of Cardinal and Ladies.” It seems to be based on the original piece “A Visit to His Eminence” by Lorenzo Cecconi. Not much is known of R. Vigna, but Cecconi was an Italian painter, restorer, and curator born in Rome in 1863. Cecconi was known for painting rural landscapes and figures of high status, such as this piece and another similar work, “An Afternoon Idyll,” which also features noble people on a gondola while musicians play. However, this piece has changes to the original. For example, this reproduction has one nobleman, a noblewoman, three musicians, and the gondolier; the original has two musicians, one nobleman, and the noblewoman, who has already left the gondola, while the gondolier is nowhere to be seen. Both contain the Cardinal, whom ‘His Eminence’ refers to in the title, dressed in red and in the center of the painting, though they wear different expressions: the reproduction has the Cardinal approaching the gondola while the original has the noblewoman greeting the Cardinal, perhaps switching the dynamic of power. Though this reproduction has tears, the scene is still a lovely view into a different time.
Escena de cardenal y damas (c. siglo XIX)
por R. Vigna
Scene of Cardinal and Ladies (c. 19th century)
by R. Vigna
This piece painted with oil on canvas by artist “R. Vigna.” is titled “Scene of Cardinal and Ladies.” It seems to be based on the original piece “A Visit to His Eminence” by Lorenzo Cecconi. Not much is known of R. Vigna, but Cecconi was an Italian painter, restorer, and curator born in Rome in 1863. Cecconi was known for painting rural landscapes and figures of high status, such as this piece and another similar work, “An Afternoon Idyll,” which also features noble people on a gondola while musicians play. However, this piece has changes to the original. For example, this reproduction has one nobleman, a noblewoman, three musicians, and the gondolier; the original has two musicians, one nobleman, and the noblewoman, who has already left the gondola, while the gondolier is nowhere to be seen. Both contain the Cardinal, whom ‘His Eminence’ refers to in the title, dressed in red and in the center of the painting, though they wear different expressions: the reproduction has the Cardinal approaching the gondola while the original has the noblewoman greeting the Cardinal, perhaps switching the dynamic of power. Though this reproduction has tears, the scene is still a lovely view into a different time.
Escena de cardenal y damas (c. siglo XIX)
por R. Vigna
Esta obra, pintada al óleo sobre lienzo por el artista “R. Vigna” se titula “Escena de Cardenal y Damas.” Parece estar basada en la obra original “Visita a Su Eminencia” de Lorenzo Cecconi. No se sabe mucho de R. Vigna, pero Cecconi fue un pintor, restaurador, y curador italiano nacido en Roma en 1863. Cecconi era conocido por pintar paisajes rurales y figuras de alto estatus, como esta obra y otra obra similar, "Un idilio de tarde," que también presenta a personas nobles en una góndola mientras los músicos tocan. Sin embargo, esta obra presenta algunos cambios del original. Por ejemplo, esta reproducción presenta a un noble, una mujer, tres músicos, y al gondolero; el original tiene dos músicos, un noble, y la mujer, quien ya ha bajado de la góndola, mientras que el gondolero no aparece por ninguna parte. Ambos contienen al Cardenal, a quien ‘Su Eminencia’ se refiere en el título, vestido de rojo y en el centro de la pintura, aunque tienen expresiones diferentes: la reproducción tiene al Cardenal acercándose a la góndola mientras que el original tiene a la noble mujer saludando al Cardenal, tal vez cambiando la dinámica del poder. Aunque esta reproducción tiene desgarros, la escena sigue siendo una hermosa vista de una época diferente.