Gaetano Chierici Italian, 1838-1920

Sale: Sotheby's, London, 16 March 1994, lot 63
Purchased by the present owner at the above sale

The canvas has been relined. There are a few small spots to the top edge of the work corresponding to frame abrasions, a small spot within the pot to the left and a small spot in the upper right. There is some faint craquelure and the varnish layer has slighty discoloured otherwise the paint surface is in good overall condition. Held in a plaster moulded gilt wood frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present work depicts one of Chierici's most famous and celebrated compositions. La Pappa (a word literally meaning 'soaked bread' and used to refer to food prepared for infants) exemplifies Chierici's homely tableaux of children playing or being tended to. He was the master of capturing the fleeting expression, whether of happiness, anticipation, or surprise. Almost always, as here, the setting for his paintings was the farmhouse kitchen, a choice no doubt influenced by his own experiences growing up in a poor family.

Born in Reggio, Chierici trained at the Academy in his home town and in Bologna, before moving to Florence in 1858 to enroll at the Academy's scuola del nudo. The sophisticated modelling of the children's faces and their life-like poses can be put down to the rigorous training he received there. Chierici gained international acclaim during his own lifetime, exhibiting outside of Italy at the Royal Academy in London from 1877 to 1881, as well as in Boston and Washington.