VITTORIO CORCOS | Girl with Hummingbirds

Acquired by the family of the present owners in Italy before 1934; thence by descent
 

The canvas has been lined and is securely attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. Some hairline craquelure is visible in the sitter's arm. Some raised craquelure and some small spots of paint flaking are visible in thick white impasto along the lower framing edge - this might benefit from some work of consolidation. Inspection under ultra-violet light reveals some retouching, including: - a circa 15 by 5cm area of retouching in the background in the upper left quadrant (also visible to the naked eye); - three areas of retouching closer to the lower edge addressing old flaking in the white impasto; and - two other circa 6 by 6cm areas of retouching are also visible in the girl's arm and cheek respectively. Otherwise, this work presents well. Presented in a gilt frame with a white inner slip.
"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."

Painted in 1883 during his stay in Paris, the present work showcases Corcos’s skill at his finely painted depictions of beautiful aristocratic women, an undisputed talent which gained him the reputation of peintres des jolies femmes. All the elements depicted in Girl with Hummingbirds have been cleverly chosen by the artist to display the sitter’s social status, from the exquisite japoniste wallpaper to the two colourful hummingbirds flying around her feathered fan. Native of South America, hummingbirds became popular among the nineteenth century upper class who started collecting them and incorporating their feathers into luxurious jewellery. The artist’s ability at reproducing the variety of fabrics in the room - from the satin dress, to the chiffon stole covering the woman’s shoulders – is a trait of his later portraits as much as of Parisian works.

Encouraged by the artist Domenico Morelli to move to Paris, upon his arrival in the French capital Corcos quickly introduced himself to the Italian expatriate artists Giuseppe de Nittis and Giovanni Boldini, both of whom would influence him greatly. However, what differentiated him from his compatriots were elements of symbolism which soon started to appear in his work and which somehow reflected a fin de siecle mood being inspired by Italian intellectuals within his circle, including Gabriele D’Annunzio.



The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Ilaria Taddei.