Giovanni Boldini 1842 - 1931
(Self Portrait, 1892) |
The Dazzling Bravura of
Giovanni Boldini
His exuberant brush captured extraordinary realism.
iovanni Boldini (1842-1931) occupies a unique and glamorous position
in the history of portraiture. Extraordinarily successful as a painter
of European high society, his dazzling bravura style, combined with
brilliant precision, has made him one of the most admired and studied
artists of all time. In fact, he occupies a position in that fabled
"triumvirate of titans" at the very pinnacle of portrait
painting in the golden era at the close of the nineteenth century
and the beginning of the twentieth. The names of John Singer Sargent,
Boldini and Sorolla (the great Spanish master) are invariably linked
when artists discuss this period. While this remarkable trio shared
numerous characteristics, Boldini's work was distinguished by his
slashing, rapier-like brushstrokes. Boldini was, like the other
two, a consummate draftsman as well as a master painter of carefully
observed tonal values. But these qualities were often overpowered
by the explosive brush attack.
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6. Portrait of the Madame Juillard in Red, 1912
Here are the Boldini trademarks at their most extravagant
and dashing. A beautiful, sophisticated, fashionable
young woman is seated elegantly on a beautiful sofa.
The brilliant dress is an explosion of sweeping brushstrokes
moving vigorously down the canvas. The hands are tapering
and delicate. The exquisite little pointed shoes are
sparkling accents. And the stylish head is rendered
with a minimum of touches of the brush. Note how the
rich, dark background provides an anchor to the shimmering
action in the foreground. This is fashionable portraiture
at its ultimate zenith. It has never been done quite
like this — before or since!
Oil on canvas, 71 x 37 inches
(180 x 94 cm).
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