Ludovico Marchetti
(Rome, 1853 – Paris, 1909)
Portrait of a Fencer, 1876
Watercolor on paper
signed and dated lower right “L. Marchetti 1876”
Frame dimensions: 69 × 53 cm
Paper dimensions: 47 × 30.5 cm
A brilliant genre scene in the Neo-Eighteenth-century style depicting a swordsman in elegant historical costume, captured in a theatrical pose within a refined, imaginary setting. The work, executed in watercolor with remarkable chromatic freshness and a fluid touch, attests to Ludovico Marchetti's early embrace of anecdotal and historicist painting derived from the teachings of Mariano Fortuny, in whose Roman circle the artist trained during the 1870s.
The composition stands out for its vivid rendering of costume details—from the red stockings to the precious fabrics of the dress—and for its refined use of light, which lends the scene an elegant and theatrical character. These are typical elements of the artist's work, which was particularly appreciated by the European bourgeois clientele of the late 19th century.
After moving to Paris in 1878, Marchetti embarked on a successful international career, exhibiting regularly at the Salon and winning a bronze medal at the 1889 World's Fair.
The work is in good overall condition. It is set in an elegant contemporary carved and gilded wooden frame.
