Adriano Cecchi (1850-1936) Rome The Galleries Of The Colosseum

Adriano CECCHI
(Prato, 1850 – Florence, 1936)
Rome, the galleries of the Colosseum
Watercolour
H. 61 cm; W. 37 cm
Signed and dated lower left - September 1917

After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence (where he later became a professor), Adriano Cecchi specialized in portraits and genre scenes. In these (concerts, marivaudages, collations, drawing or dance lessons, etc.), his protagonists move in opulent 18th-century clothing and settings; several trips to England from 1880 onwards allowed him to be inspired by Gainsborough, especially for his portraits. Outdoors, in warm and bright atmospheres, he depicts Italian shepherds and peasant women in traditional outfits, where the influence of the Macchiaoli can be detected. Cecchi was very involved in the cultural and artistic life of Florence around 1900; the Palazzo Pitti preserves a collection of his works, and his hometown dedicated an exhibition to him in 1979. In this view of the arcades of the Colosseum, the artist departs from his habits to adopt a style close to that of an architect.