This charming late 19th-century oil painting by Arturo Orselli (fl. 1880-1896) depicts a huntsman wearing riding gear conversing somewhat flirtatiously with two ladies.
Attired in outfits befitting the sumptuous fashions of the 1820s, these high society ladies are dressed to impress. On the left, adorned in yellow, parasol in hand, a curious young woman points her toe while lifting her skirt - heaven forbid it would touch the dusty earth. While on the right, dressed in blue, with an extraordinary hat, her companion meets the gentleman’s gaze. Are they competing for his love?
A weary dog has seen it all before...
Decorative scenes such as this were extraordinarily popular during the late 19th century and often adorned various city galleries. Buying habits were noticeably different compared to earlier in the century, partly due to the influence of female customers. To meet this growing demand, numerous Italian artists visited London and were welcomed by various art dealers.
It’s possible that Orselli trained in Italy before travelling over but there’s very little information on him. The name doesn’t appear in any digitised ancestry records, which begs the question why. It could be a pseudonym for an Italian who was working exclusively for multiple galleries. Or alternatively, it’s a British illustrator who thought he’d add a little flair to his offering. Either way, his talent for figures, wit, and colour are more than evident.
The painting sold in Toronto, Canada, for 16,000 CAD (£9,340), in 1988.
Signed in the lower right and held in a later frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 37” x 45” / 94cm x 115cm
Year of creation: c. 1890
Provenance: British, European & American Oil Paintings, Waddingtons, Toronto, 30 November 1988, lot 684 / Private collection, UK.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. One patched repair with corresponding in-painting.
Artist’s auction maximum: £9,340 for ‘Flirtatious Huntsman’, Oil on canvas, Waddingtons, British, European & American Oil Paintings, Toronto, 1988 (lot 684).
Our reference: BRV1837
