(Atzgersdorf 1832–1889 Vienna)
Italian girl with a small basket and a carnation before a laurel bush, signed, inscribed A. Romako a Roma, oil on canvas, 99 x 75 cm, framed, (W)

Provenance:
Paul Hartmann art gallery and collection, Stuttgart;
his heirs: Private Collection, Germany.

Catalogued and illustrated in:
Cornelia Reiter, Anton Romako, Pionier und Außenseiter der Malerei des 19. Jahrhunderts, Belvedere, Verlag Bibliothek der Provinz, Weitra 2010, p. 147, CR no. 196.

Catalogued in:
Fritz Novotny, Der Maler Anton Romako, Verlag Anton Schroll & Co, Vienna, Munich 1954, CR p. 83, no. 118

Anton Romako’s genre paintings showing Italian peasantry hold an important place in his oeuvre. The artist moved to Rome in 1856 to earn money, a motivation he also expressed in his letters. Seemingly romantic images of the Italian countryside with its people wearing traditional country dress sold very well with the wealthy public, largely consisting of tourists visiting (or making pilgrimages to) the Holy City. His works met with great public approval, and ensured a steady, respectable income. However, Romako’s desire to express his artistic drive grew stronger and stronger. Initially he made use of the elements taught by the Academy, in line with traditional style. Nevertheless, he increasingly turned away from this, not only making his brushstrokes more expressive, but also lending his colours a surreal note. This almost made his paintings seem to vibrate.

The present painting depicts a girl in country dress, holding a basket and a carnation. While this work does correspond to classical trends, it is testimony to Romako’s unique ability to express the feelings of the subject, who looks into the distance with an almost melancholy gaze.