(Venice 1854–1929 San Remo)
Entrance to the Villa Camerini, Piazzola sul Brenta, signed, dated F. Zonaro (18)86, oil on canvas, 65 x 56 cm, framed, (GG)

Exhibited:
Florence, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Life and Light between Ottoman Splendor and Italian Belle Epoque, 1 April-30 April 2015.

We are grateful to Erol Makzume for confirming the authenticity of this work on the basis of the original.

Ingresso della Villa Camerini serves as a pictorial souvenir of Zonaro’s stay at the villa.

Count Paolo Camerini (1868-1937), the villa’s owner, became one of Zonaro’s most influential patrons. His enthusiasm and commitment helped to establish Zonaro’s reputation.
He assembled a collection of the artist’s paintings, buying the painting O Pazzariello for the considerable sum of £12,000. He also maintained a particularly close personal relationship with the artist.
Count Paolo Camerini’s father, Luigi (1819-1885), was not only a collector of Zonaro’s paintings but also asked him to decorate the salon and theater in the Villa Camerini for which the artist painted around 30 pastels of Neapolitan subjects. They were unfortunately stolen a few years ago. Other works were also painted during Zonaro’s stay at the villa, including the present lot.