" Surprised bathers", this fine nude painting in the style of Romanticism executed in 1847 by important Italian genre and allegorical painter Mauro Conconi (1815-1860). A painting titled "Bagnanti sorprese" was mentioned by G. Mongeri in " Mauro Conconi. Commemorazione " Milan, 1861. A painting with the same subject was sold at Finarte, Milan, in December 1979, it confirmed by Michele Bruno of Finarte (source: www.mattiajona.com).

Mauro Conconi was born and died in Milan. He was trained in the Brera Academy. The painter Carlo Bellosio invited him to paint in the Castle of Pollenzo in 1837, and to the Castle of Racconigi and Turin in 1842 to help in the decorations made at Royal sites. Here Conconi worked with Palagi. He painted canvases depicting San Vincenzo de Paoli, Parisina, Cristoforo Colombo (Columbus), Byron, a depiction of The Prisoner of Chillon from Byron�s poem, Galileo Galilei, Camoens, The Surprised Bather, Achilles and Thetis ( museum of academy in Venice ), Rinaldo and Armida (Milan museum of Modern Art), Ultimate Riches. He painted the fresco medallion on the ceiling at the entry of the Armory in Royal Palace of Turin. He also painted for the villa Calderara in Vinzago, and frescoed also in the church of Origgio. There are works by him also in Vigevano, Lodi, Malnate, Galliano, and Barzano.He was buried alongside his close friend and colleague, Cherubino Cornienti, who died two days before him.

Literature: Thieme/Becker "Lexicon of artists from antique to contemporary", Leipzig, 1999; "La Pittura lombarda nel secolo XIX",Tipografica Capriolo di Massimino, 1900, page 56.

Inscription: signed and indistinctly dated 1847 lower right on the edge of the stone plate; on the reverse of the stretcher-stamp of an Italian collection: " Collezione Corrado Fali.."Le Bagnanti", No.130, M. Conconi"

Technique: oil on canvas. Original gold frame.

Measurements: unframed w 28 1/8" x h 22" (71,5 x 56 cm), framed w 33 7/8" x h 28 1/3" (86 x 72 cm)

Condition: very good, professionally relining of canvas.