Benito Belli

BENITO BELLI (Barcelona ca. 1850 - early XX).
"Female portrait".1885.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated in the upper right corner.
Measurements: 65.5 x 35.5 cm; 82 x 51 x 7 cm (frame).

Portrait of young woman, with regional attire, headdress and shawl adorned with flowers, clothing that refers to a very characteristic Italian costumbrismo of the late nineteenth century. The posture, with arms folded and body slightly turned, conveys a restrained attitude, while the expression - direct gaze and slight smile - denotes a studied psychological intention rather than a simple idealized portrait.

The work reveals an emotional intensity characteristic of Belli's portraits, a painter who participated in international competitions such as the Barcelona Fine Arts Exhibition. In 1902 two works by Belli became part of the then Municipal Museum of Fine Arts of Barcelona, coming from a private collection.