FR EN
an old painting of a man holding a piece of bread
Premium Dams Casa d'Aste

44 - Portrait of a Beggar, Neapolitan School, 17th century, oil o…
See original version (Italian)

Estimate €2,000 - €2,500
Sale commission
Description
Portrait of a Beggar, Neapolitan School, 17th century, oil on canvas, 96 x 74 cm The painting depicts an elderly man in half-length, emerging from a dark background whilst holding a simple piece of bread in his hands. The light, concentrated on the face and limbs, emphasises the furrowed brow, the unkempt beard and the skin marked by age, lending the figure a strong physical presence and a marked expressive intensity.The work forms part of the 17th-century Neapolitan naturalist tradition, still deeply influenced by the legacy of Caravaggio and Ribera. In particular, the rendering of the figure through vigorous chiaroscuro, the accentuated physiognomic characterisation and the focus on a humble, working-class subject find significant points of contact with the work of Nunzio Rossi, particularly in the works from his Neapolitan period, characterised by energetic brushwork, warm tones and a marked attention to the emotional rendering of the figures.The presence of bread, an essential and everyday element, emphasises the scene’s portrayal of poverty and transforms the subject into a meditation on old age, poverty and the human condition – themes particularly in keeping with the naturalistic culture of seventeenth-century southern Italy.
See original version (Italian)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Paintings and Drawings from the 15th to the 19th century
Auction location
Auction time 10/29/2026 at 3:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like