This fun genre scene in the ine cellar was executed by listed Neapolitan genre painter Francesco Peluso ((1836 - 1918). The artist worked in Naples and recieved acknowledge for his bourgeois and folk genre scenes.

He was born in Naples in 1836. In his hometown he regularly attended the Academy of Fine Arts and at the same time, privately, he attended the painting courses held at Vincenzo Petrocelli´s atelier.In 1855 he made his public debut in painting with the painting Laban that blesses Jacob and Rachel.In the years from 1862 to 1887 he participated assiduously in the exhibitions of the Promoter "Salvator Rosa": in 1863 and 1864 he presented himself with Elizabeth of England sent to arrest Varney who is dead and the Alchemist, paintings that were subsequently purchased by the King Vittorio Emanuele II; in 1872 he exhibited A cheerful brigade; in subsequent participations he exhibits A toast; Shore players; To warm hands; The book of fairies; A song; The game of bingo; Reading the Orlando Furioso; A day of celebration in the village.He deals with historical subjects and is the author of genre scenes, sometimes also abandoning himself to compositions with a "lighter" character, managing to obtain, over the course of his long career, more than discreet consent from critics and a good success of public and commercial.The constant pleasantness of the subjects treated combines a pictorial dress hinged on quick and quick touches.There is no absolute certainty regarding the date of his disappearance. The most reliable theories date back to after 1916.

Literature: General Artist´s Lexicons by Thieme/Becker, Leipzig, 1999 (in German); by Benezit (in French) and by Gianelli "Art. napolitan. viv.", 1916 (in Italian).

Inscription: signed lower right.

Technique: Oil on canvas, salon gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 15 3/4" x h 22" (40 x 56 cm), framed w 24" x h 30 1/3" (61 x 77 cm).

Condition: very good, original canvas.