(Rome 1881–1962 Turin)
Effetto di Neve, signed C. Maggi, oil on canvas laid on panel, 26 x 28 cm, framed, (GG)

Provenance:
European private collection.
Catalogued and illustrated in:
Societe Dante Alighieri, Catalogue du Salon des peintres divisionnistes italiens 1er septembre-15 octobre 1907, Galleria d’arte moderna Alberto Grubicy Milano, Paris 1907, p. 8, no.100.

Exhibited:
Salon des peintres divisionnistes italiens, Serre de l’Alma Paris, 1er septembre-15 octobre 1907, no. 100.

In 1907 a second generation of Divisionists was formed under the auspices of Alberto Grubicy’s gallery in Milan. They contributed for example to exhibitions in Paris in 1907 and 1912. Figures such as Cesare Maggi, Carlo Fornara (1871–1968) and Matteo Olivero (1879–1932) wanted to render all forms and effects of light as accurately as possible – pure sunlight such as the present lot.
Cesare Maggi embraced Divisionism under the influence of critic theoretician and fellow artist Vittore Grubicy. Maggi’s interest in optical theory influence his depiction of light and atmosphere.
The subject of winter landscapes fascinated Cesare Maggi throughout his career and “effet de neige” is a vivid early painting on this important theme. He painted out-of-doors in the snow to capture the effects of light.
He would continue to produce winter landscapes paintings throughout all his life particularly from La Thuile in the Aosta Valley where he bought a house with his wife Nucci in 1904.

The success he achieved at the Venice Biennale in 1912 secured him international acclaim.

In the second lot - Monte Bianco da Entreves - he captured the intense cold and the bright light on the snow.
The winter season was of particular interest providing an endless range of subjects. The challenge of capturing the effect of light.