Masterfully colourfully Italian Romanticist genre portrait was executed ca.in 1840s by high listed artist Vincenzo Catalani (1814 Rome - after 1860 Naples). His works are extremely rare in the international art market.

Catalano (Catalani), Vincenzo, Italian painter, born 1814 in Rome, worked in Naples between 1830 and 1860. Exhibited his works at the different exhibitions of the Real.Institute of the fine Art Academy and Real Museum Borbonico; paintings by him situate in the Fone Art Academy in Naples and MN di Capodimonte ("Episode from Flood"). Filangieri pints on two further paintings "La Sonnambula" and portrait of the artist Van Maldichen (in the studio of painter Palizzi).

The sitter of this painting  is Lucia Mondella, the female protagonist of Alessandro Manzoni's historical novel The Betrothed.

She is the fiancée of Renzo Tramaglino and the female protagonist of the story. She works as a silk spinner. She lives with her mother, Agnese, in a village on Lake Como in Lombardy.

She is young, modest, deeply religious, and distinguished by great moral strength. Her marriage to Renzo is prevented by the cruel feudal lord Don Rodrigo, who desires her. Strength: Despite being kidnapped and suffering great hardship, she maintains her strong will and forgives her tormentors, such as the Unnamed One.

Full history about this character see on following link in Italian from Wikipedia:

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucia_Mondella

For proof of the depicted person and attribution to the artist Vincenzo Catalani  see our last additional 2 images.

Literature: AKL, XVII, 1997, p.280; Filangieri V, 1891. – G.Quattromani, Saggio sopra alcune opere di BA ... in: Ann. civili 1841, 136 s.; A.Caputi/R.Causa/R.Mormone, La Gall. dell´ABA in Napoli, N., 1971, p.105.

Inscription: signed with monogram "CV" lower left.

Technique: oil on canvas, original period frame.

Measurements: unframed w 9" x h 10 1/4" (22,7 x 26 cm), framed w 15 3/4" x h 16 7/8" (40 x 43 cm).

Condition: in  good condition.