Artwork
Figures in Italia Costume
Figures in Italia Costume is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist John Frederick Lewis. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Figures in Italia Costume is a watercolour drawing by John Frederick Lewis, featuring a group of people in traditional Italian attire. The work is executed in pencil and watercolour, with some areas enhanced with colour.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a gathering of figures in simple, old-fashioned clothing, with some seated on a bench and others standing or leaning. The scene is likely influenced by Léopold Robert's 1830 painting Arrival of the Harvesters in the Pontin Marshes.
Technique & Style
The artist employed soft, muted colours and loose brushstrokes to capture the figures, with an emphasis on light and shadow to define their forms. The faces and hands are rendered with quick, expressive lines, suggesting a rapid study.
History & Provenance
The drawing was acquired by Mme. Vincent from Appleby Bros. Ltd during their autumn exhibition in 1965 and remains in a private collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Frederick Lewis (1804–1876) was an English Orientalist painter. He specialized in Oriental and Mediterranean scenes in detailed watercolour or oils, very often repeating the same composition in a version in each…
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A Western woman with her children in Macau
A group of Indian musicians and dancers
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The Murder of Archbishop Sharpe
Two Figures in Classical Dress