Ambrogio Antonio Alciati

The Pick-Mangiagalli Collection, Monaco
Sale: Sotheby's, New York, October 23, 2007, lot 99, illustrated 
Acquired at the above sale

Lined. A very fine web of craquelure is visible on the maltese and in some of the darker pigments. Under UV: a few isolated dashes of retouching are scattered in the background with a concentrated area outlining the left side of the curtain at upper right. Small isolated areas of finely painted retouching visible in the dog's face and paw; the lady's hair and skirt; and in the background surrounding the chair. Further lines of inpainting are visible: a 5 inch horizontal dashed line extending from left edge to the chair leg; a 4 inch diagonal line in the chair base; and a 2 ½ inch vertical line at lower center.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

According to family lore, the sitter for the present work was a relative of Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli (1882-1949), an Italian composer of great renown. Pick-Mangiagalli studied at the Conservatory Giuseppe Verdi as well as in Prague and Vienna; among his influential teachers was Richard Strauss.  Beginning his career as a concert pianist, Pick-Magiagalli then turned exclusively to composition. The composer's work for the piano is still performed today, as is his chamber music, including the Ballata Sinfonica and the Humoresque. Pick-Mangiagalli also gained fame from his scores for ballet and opera; his first opera, the Salice d'Oro, debuted at Milan's La Scala in 1913, followed by Il carillon magico in 1918.

While the exact identity of this elegantly dressed woman is unknown, any member of the Pick-Mangiagalli circle would be a fitting subject for society portraitist Ambrogio Antonio Alciati.  As with the society portraits of Giovanni Boldini and John Singer Sargent, Alciati's expressive brushwork and rich palette were perfectly suited for those who wanted a 'modern' portrait to demonstrate their fashionable taste and refinement.   Here, Alciati perfectly captures the heavy folds of the sitter's costume with its sumptuous aubergine fabric, luxuriously soft velvet gloves and the sparkling pop of white paint detailing the jewel on her finger.  Equal attention is paid to the woman's pet, a fine breed, itself a symbol of status with his well-manicured, fluffy fur, pink belly, and detailed expression as carefully described as his owner's.