Carlo Francolini

Portrait Of A Carthusian Monk Holding Wine

Carlo Francolini

Portrait Of A Carthusian Monk Holding Wine

This early 20th-century oil painting by Italian artist Carlo Francolini (1840-1930) depicts a Carthusian monk holding several bottles of wine while standing in a monastery setting.

Francolini worked predominantly in Florence and would’ve been well aware of the rich tradition of wine-making in the rolling Tuscan hills. Monasteries needed wine for their various rituals, so monks became well-versed in planting and cultivating vines. One particularly delicious variety is Tuscan Vin Santo, a treacly dessert wine used to celebrate mass. Vin Santo translates as ‘Holy Wine’ and it’s probably the golden elixir we see here.

Signed/dated lower right and framed.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 18” x 29½” / 46cm x 75cm
Year of creation: c. 1910
Labels & Inscriptions: Auction references on reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, Slovakia.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Cleaned. Fine and settled craquelure, as you would expect. The paint layer is stable. One patched repair.
Our reference: BRV1810

Conservation & History

We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.

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