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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: ankerdine on Wednesday 19 March 14 18:01 GMT (UK)
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I have a small painting of Venice which belonged to my parents. It shows several fishing boats with orange/brown sails and also small steamboats/lighters with small cargoes. There are several smoke stacks with smoke pouring out over St. Mark's Square in the distance. I think it's original on board not just a print/copy.
The artist's signature is something like "Riccissione.." but it's not clear. What is lovely is that the "R" is quite stylised, with the down strokes coming down below the other characters and thickening as they do so.
I am attempting to download a photo from my phone but am having trouble at the moment. ::)
I've searched on Google but not come up with any artist who might fit the painting. I know it's not a Turner! ;) but just wondered if anyone had any ideas?
Judy
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Hi Judy the only one that springs to mind is Ron DiCianni.
Shame we can't see it ::)
Carol
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Thanks Carol for that suggestion.
OH is working on my mobile photos but he seems to have lost some. ;)
Maybe I'll take one on my digital camera tomorrow instead. ;)
More to follow.
Judy ;)
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Judy, maybe a close-up of the signature would be more useful rather than the whole painting.
Jane
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Good afternoon,
Not Ron DiCianni, he is still alive living in California with his wife Pat. Not sure of his birth date but he would only have been a baby in 1920 if alive then.
John915
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Hi Judy....There is a place name called Riccione in Italy...see here:
http://www.gctinning.com/war-years/riccione-1944-16x-24-in-39x-57-cm/
If you google images for Riccione you may find one similar to yours.
A similar query here with image of painting:
http://forum.findartinfo.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3176
Carol
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Hi again
Thanks for additional comments Jane, John and Carol. Been a bit busy today so haven't had time to take photos.
The painting is definitely Venice with that tall tower in the background. St. Mark's/Doge's Palace??
The signatue looks more like Rissio......i
I will do my best to download a pic soon. I'm out tomorrow at a painting workshop but watch this space. ;)
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I've looked in loads of modern reference looking for a similar name, of that vintage, and not found anyone who seems a shoe-in. You must know that it could be by an amateur - that doesn't make it any less of a painting, or any less good - and that would mean you've very little chance of tracing it.
There are what seem like squillions of artists - of varying qualities - who have produced shedloads of paintings of Venice, and believe me, many of the "professional" efforts would make you weep! Almost all seem to include the campanile in St Mark's square ( unless they are of the rialto bridge!) so the subject won't narrow it down a lot, sadly.
I think "Riccione" the place, isn't all that far from Venice.
Don't worry if you can't decipher the signature. Enjoy it.
If you're doing painting workshops at present, perhaps the next idea might be to go to Venice, take your paints, try to identify the viewpoint either on the spot or using something like Googlearth or the Venice connected camera tours, and then do your own modern version of the same scene! Could be a splendid holiday souvenir. But be warned, even Canaletto, Guardi and Turner "moved" bits of buildings round to suit the composition they wanted. It might not be very easy to pinpoint the exact spot from the 1920s.
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? Lorenzo Rizzi? worked in Venice in 1920s
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Lucciano Richetti 1897 -1977?
Gaetano Ricchezzi d 1950s?
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Thank you ThrelfallYorky for your comments. I'd love to try and paint the view in Venice. There's a challenge. ;)
I think you are correct that the painting is by an amateur. It must be a copy too but I still enjoy it because it belonged to my father who died at the age of 45 when I was 7 years old.
Here is the photo...and signature....
Judy
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Photo of Venice coming up now...
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It looks vaguely to me as if it's from Punto della Dogano, in front to the "Salute" church, or possibly from San Georgio, a little further over on the basin of St Marks, looking towards the piazetta and the campanile of St Marks. Can't get anywhere on identifying it - it probably will be by an amateur, but does that matter? Enjoy it.
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WOOHOOO! I've found him;- Oscar Ricciardi! If you g**gle his name, in inverted commas, and click on "images", you'll find heaps of his watercolours ... and even a scan of his signature, which looks virtually identical!
I had a suspicion that an amateur artist might not have done so well with rendering the surface of the water ... turns out the suspicion was right. This is exciting, Judy!
** Edited to add- my goodness he was prolific. Many many works listed on the 'net, seems he also worked in oils ... But whilst I have seen a similar view of Venice, I haven't found the exact same view ... so ... what are the chances you have an original?
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Oh crumbs, Deb, what are you saying?! I'll take a peak at what you have found though I can't believe it's an original. ;)
On the back is stuck a sheet of tatty brown paper with the following scribbled in pencil "3/11" and the number "1899". I am tempted to remove the brown paper and see what is beneath, if anything. :-\
Judy
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;D his work seems to go for a VERY healthy sum at auction ;D Is it drinks all round Judy?
Jane
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That would be on offer ;D ;D ;D but I am sure it must be a print of an original oil painting and the surround appears to be possibly "bakerlite" (Sp?). Also it has lost a lot of its colour though the sails of the boats are still a lovely orange/brown. There's a masted ship in the harbour in the far distance.
It's just great to find out who the artist is. :-* :-*
Judy
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Well done, and congratulations on your sleuthing Deb D! However I have seen water rendered just as well by amateurs, you know. I'd not got him in my sights at all, really impressed.
Ankerdine: it's nothing wrong if it's a print, at least if it's not an expensive original you won't have to up your insurance or add security! As I said: enjoy it, especially with the lovely associations the work has for you. Put it up on that wall with pride.
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Good afternoon,
What a result, whatever you do don't remove the paper on the back. Take it to a dealer for valuation, they will want to see that as it is in situ. Especially if it's an original, it looks to me like a date.
John915
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well well well, lovely painting - what a surprise for you. uhm is the 3/11 on the back the fact its one of 11 prints??
I dont know, but I wish you all the best. It is an absolutely lovely pic, the sails of the boat at the front really lovely.
ENJOY it even if its worth 2d
xin ;D ;D
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Thanks for all your very friendly comments.
It all began last Tuesday when our local U3A Art Appreciation Group had a session entitled Venice. It was fascinating with all the usual famous artists but also some lesser known more modern artists.
I went home thinking that I had a painting of Venice somewhere in the house and the rest is history. Wait till I tell them next session about my little discovery. It's "Gothic" next time. Now have I got anything in the attic that could possibly be........... ::)
Thanks to you all.
Judyx
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Just to draw this thread to a close, we did remove the brown paper and found the following marks which confirmed it as a print. There are also two "litho prints" on ebay with the same marks and, strangely, with the same frame.
I am still enjoying the picture especially as the glass has been cleaned! ;)
Yes, Deb, when I received your message just for a minute I did think I was going to be rich but I couldn't have withstood the fame and notoriety. ::)
Judy
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Doesn't it just prove that people on this site, working together, can do and find ( almost) anything and anyone? (Just wish I could find a way through my brick walls, all three of them).
You will have a lovely tale to tell at your U3A group, let us all know what the response was, won't you?
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You will have a lovely tale to tell at your U3A group, let us all know what the response was, won't you?
Yes, please do!