Italian painter (second half of the 18th century) - Portrait of an elderly man with an aphorism.

Italian painter (second half of the 18th century) - Portrait of an elderly man with an aphorism. 92 x 68 cm. Oil on canvas, unframed. Work bearing an inscription on the open book: "There are more madmen in the world than wise men, and those few wise men have more madness in their brains than wisdom in their minds.". The painting depicts a half-length elderly man, dressed in a red-bordered garment, holding an open book with the readable inscription in both hands. The subject looks towards the viewer with a slightly ironic expression. The clothing and the presence of an inkwell on the surface suggest a person of rank, likely a scholar or an official. The aphorism is traditionally associated with Nicolas Chamfort (1741–1794), a French moralist known for his satirical wit. The pictorial execution, with the flat application of red on the garment and the summary rendering of the dark background, harks back to Venetian portraiture of the mid-18th century. Condition report: Relined canvas. Good condition of the pictorial surface, with oxidation of the varnish. All shipments in the EU are free and professionally packed. This item is sold with a legally valid certificate of authenticity. Further details on the condition report are available upon request. Viezzi Arte guarantees quality and professionalism at competitive prices, contact us at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at +39 3402841279. Message to non-Italian buyers: This artwork has not yet obtained the free export certificate from Italy, issued by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which attests that the artwork does not belong to the Italian cultural heritage and can therefore be exported freely. The regulations in force from 2026 provide for reduced times for works with a declared value below 50,000 euros, established at the discretion of the expert commission: on average 2-3 weeks from the submission of the request. All costs related to this procedure are included in the price. Disclaimer Rendering: The environmental images are generated with AI for illustrative purposes and may not accurately represent the real proportions of the artwork.