Artwork
A Water Carrier
A Water Carrier is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A Water Carrier is a watercolour drawing by Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas, the 5th Count Preziosi, featuring a solitary figure carrying water. The work exists in multiple versions, with variations in quality and some unsigned, indicating possible studio copies or imitations.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a man engaged in a mundane, laborious task, emphasizing everyday life. His attire (red hat, striped shirt, loose pants) and equipment (leather bag, long stick) suggest a working-class individual. The depiction focuses on the ordinary, reflecting the artist's interest in common life scenes.
Technique & Style
The drawing employs simple, muted colors (reds, browns, whites) and quick, sketchy lines, conveying a sense of immediacy. The overall style is characterized by directness and simplicity, prioritizing the representation of the subject over intricate detail.
History & Provenance
Acquired in July 1972 through an exchange with Prue Heathcote-Williams, as noted by Rodney Searight. The piece is part of a collection of single-figure studies, with similar works held in prominent institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi
Amedeo Preziosi (2 December 1816 – 27 September 1882) was a Maltese painter and traveler known for his watercolours and prints of Constantinople, the Balkans, Ottoman Empire, and Romania.
![Portrait of Trehem[?]Walid 'Abdullah, an Arab from Iraq, by Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/aloysius-rosarius-amadeus-raymondus-andreas-preziosi--portrait-of-trehem-walid-abdullah-an-arab-from-iraq--2476a3692d0929a5-w320.webp)
![A Seller of Milk-puddings [Mahallebi], by Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/aloysius-rosarius-amadeus-raymondus-andreas-preziosi--a-seller-of-milk-puddings-mahallebi--3da9fd2db017402d-w320.webp)
![A Saka, or water carrier[?], by Anonymous Greek artist](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/anonymous-greek-artist--a-saka-or-water-carrier--fea97d6d74c0c945-w320.webp)
