GIOVANNI FATTORI | Horsemen

Edmondo Sacerdoti, Milan Purchased by the grand father of the present owners, probably from the above.

Giovanni Malesci, Catalogazione illustrata della pittura a olio di Giovanni Fattori, Novara, 1961, n°228 illustrated titled Cavalleggeri
L'Opera completa di Fattori, Milan 1970 n°384, titled Tre lancieri in una pianura

This work is in good condition. The artist's panel is uncradled, flat, even and ensuring a stable support. There is a superficial 2cm crack in the ground to the left of the leftmost horse and a small loss in the lower centre (both visible in the catalogue, and not visually distracting). Ultra-violet light reveals some scattered minor spots of retouching, primarily in the sky. The colours in reality are less yellow overall, and subtler than in the catalogue illustration.
"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."

With its elongated format, its colours and its technique, « Horsemen" is typical of the military paintings executed by Giovanni Fattori during his life. He painted many military subjects, from large and ambitious battle scenes to smaller subjects showing everyday military life. Fattori was an active patriot and in 1848-49, during the revolutionary years, he interrupted his studies in order to help the democratic anti-Austrian party.Fattori is, with Silvestro Lega and Telemaco Signorini, one of the main artists of the "Macchiaioli" group . Born in Florence, the movement had the ambition to modernize the academic tradition prevalent in Italy in the first half of the XIXth century : the artists chose subjects taken from modern life and history, and used an innovating technique : spontaneous brushstrokes, juxtaposition of colours, strong contrasts.