Italian Woman With Coral Necklace And Ciociaria Costume, By James Sant (1820-1916) . Dated 1867

Portrait of the Italian Woman with Coral Necklace and Ciociaria Costume, with Label from the Collection of Sir Julian Goldsmid
Artist: Monogrammed SJ (attributed to James Sant, 1820-1916)
Dated 1867
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
• Without frame: 45 x 36 cm
• With frame: 61 x 53 cm

Frame: Gilded wooden frame, contemporary to the painting, with relief decorations and a visible crack in the upper right corner.
The painting depicts an Italian woman dressed in the traditional costume of Ciociaria, wearing a folded white cloth on her head, following the regional custom of southern Italy. She wears a coral necklace and gold earrings adorned with crescent motifs, characteristic of the local goldsmithing tradition. The soft lighting enhances the depth of her gaze and the refinement of her complexion, while the drapery of her attire and the details of her accessories are rendered with remarkable precision.


Provenance notes. 
On the reverse of the painting, there is a label linking it to the collection of Sir Julian Goldsmid (1838-1896), a British politician, financier, and art collector. Goldsmid was a member of one of the most influential Anglo-Jewish families of the 19th century, with strong ties to the Rothschilds. His art collection, known for its refined selection of works by British and international artists, reflects an interest in European culture and the depiction of regional traditions.

Historical Notes on the Artist:
James Sant (1820-1916) was a renowned Victorian portraitist and served as “Principal Painter in Ordinary” to Queen Victoria from 1871. A member of the Royal Academy, he was distinguished by his sensitivity in portraying female subjects, capturing both their expressiveness and delicacy through masterful use of light and color. His portraits, highly sought after by the aristocracy and British bourgeoisie, were regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Paris Salon.