Mid 19Th Century Italian Genre Oil Painting A Chess Problem By Carlo Ferranti

Step into a thrilling chess battle with this 1 Carlo Ferranti's mid 19th Century Italian genre oil painting "A Chess Problem". You will love this really stunning detailed work of art which captures the essence of a thrilling, high-stakes game, inspiring you to take on the challenge. What Chess move would you make?

Title “A Chess Problem” by Carlo Ferranti 1840-1908.

Subject portrait genre of a beautiful full length front view depicting a fascinating sporting genre interior scene Italian high society aristocratic period home interior scene. Showing 5 people of whom 4 are seated. 3 Ladies and 2 gentlemen. 1 seated gentleman leaning over looking perplexed, dressed in light green period costume with long frilly ruff lace cuffs and wearing his white hair cover peruke, he appears to be losing and is caught in deep strategic thought pondering about the game his next move.  

His opponent is seated in a fancy gilt chair with rich oxblood fabric, a nubile young lady wearing a full length light pink dress with large wide frilly lace cuffs and has white bow decorations running down her top, her dress has golden pattern decorations  all around, she has ginger hair and is wearing a double pearl necklace, in her long tall hair are garlands of pink & white flowers on top. She looks rather confident and is focused about to play her next move as she is reaching out for a chess piece.

To her left just behind her is her friend also seated on a large chaise lounge sofa, who is wearing a grey dress with a pink rose on her top and having a gold pendant around her neck, with a tall white hair piece cover with a black bow on top. She is holding a decorative hand fan. She is gazing with curiosity to the chess board. Further over to the right is a tall torchere stand with a beautiful blue & gold planter vase which has numerous pink flowers displayed, at the bottom is another brass floor planter with large yellow flowers. In the centre is a table covered with a fine green velvet with gold pattern cover, the chess board is on top showing the various black & white chess pieces.

Above another gentlemen dressed in a deep purple waistcoat with ruffle shirt underneath, looking rather amused he is leaning over slightly with 1 of his hands resting on the other side of the table with his other hand on his side. Further over to the left is another seated lady on a stool who is wearing a fine golden dress, both of her hands are resting on her crossed legs she is holding a fan down. Further over view of a large console table with grand Rococo mirror and a mantle clock showing. On the home interior walls are gilt candle lights along with a very large Italian framed painting. The marble floor is amazing which is a geometric shaped star in the centre with a red rug showing.

The hue colours are so bright and exceptional, an amazing statement piece for your home or office wall.

You can feel the movement in the creases & folds of their clothing they are all wearing.

Signed in black paint C Ferranti in the bottom corner by the known Italian artist Carlo Ferranti.

A great display size with the frame being 87 cm wide and 71.5 cm high.

Oil on canvas. 

Set in an attractive original gilt frame.

With metal hanging brackets on the back ready for home display.   

Circa late 19th century.

Artist biography of the artist Carlo Ferranti was a known Italian School artist from Italy he was born in 1840 and died in 1908, his works of art have sold in auctions around the world. Though not a great deal is recorded about his life, Carlo Ferranti works show such an impressive technical skill. He specialised in painting interior genre scenes in Rome during the mid-nineteenth century. During this period Rome was the place to be for yearning artists and the competition battle for the Rome Academies annual Prix de Rome’ contests was so intense. Ferranti’s artworks fit into this such well liked fashion of the time which was for genre. What was especially loved was ladies and gentlemen shown dressed in fabulous period costumes and showing fascinating or humours scenes.

Provenance see Lot 207, British & Continental Pictures, Sotheby's London, 14th July 2004, also another auction label verso along with artist biography.

So collectible and sought after.

Condition report.  

Offered in fine used condition.  

The painting surface is in good overall condition, with various craquelure and foxing stains. Set in the original gilt frame which has various signs of general wear, scuffs, scratches, various chips, losses and cracking also repairs to the frame commensurate with usage & old age. It would benefit with being reframed.