Description:
Refined watercolor on paper by the master Ettore Forti, one of the greatest and most appreciated international exponents of the "neo-Pompeian" movement. The scene, steeped in a vibrant archaeological atmosphere, is set within the shop or the Domus of a young antiquarian in ancient Rome. The painter stages a sophisticated moment of buying and selling: on the left, the merchant is showin g a precious marble statuette to two Roman matrons and another buyer. The central figure, elegantly seated on a Klismos chair, observes the artifact with a thoughtful pose, flanked by the other two characters in finely draped clothing. The work stands out for its exceptional technical skill and the extraordinary chromatic saturation of the watercolor. The walls, in an intense "Pompeian red," create a perfect contrast with the candid tones of the tunics. The attention to detail is of the highest level: the room is full of faithfully reproduced ancient art objects, including black-figure Attic kraters, a bronze imperial statue, busts on columns, and a rich oriental carpet laid on the mosaic floor. In the background, an architectural perspective opens onto a sunny Roman courtyard.
Ettore Forti was a celebrated painter active in Rome between 1880 and 1920. Following in the footsteps of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Forti specialized in the meticulous and idealized reconstruction of daily life in ancient Rome and Pompeii.
He exhibited with great success in Berlin and Rome between 1893 and 1907. His works, characterized by impeccable academic drawing and technical precision of a Neo-Flemish nature, are exhibited at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Capuchin Museum in Milan, etc.
Sheet dimensions 35.5x45, with frame 57.5x68
