Alfonso Grassi - Serene Old Age

The painting can be defined as a genre scene, that is, the depiction of an episode of everyday life that, apparently, lacks any significant element. These types of domestic subjects were long considered minor and only began to spread in Western art starting in the 17th century. Only with the development of 19th-century realism did everyday subjects become considered as important as historical or religious ones.

Alfonso Grassi's artistic language is based primarily on a tendency toward realism, both in terms of subject matter and its interpretation. The choice of a simple subject, linked to a humble daily life, corresponds to the adoption of a modest, low-key pictorial language. The artist creates a domestic setting, and the composition has a linear and balanced structure. Grassi's realism is evident in not only contextual but also existential details, which indicate the permanence of values ​​unchanged over time. Technically, he achieves this with a lively pictorial style, while the chromatic palette, with its muted tones, reflects his intent to convey the values ​​of a simple existence.

Alfonso Grassi was born in Solofra in 1918 and died in Salerno in 2002. He trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, where he studied with Carlo Silvieri, Emilio Notte, and Vincenzo Caprile. Nicknamed the "painter of old men" for his recurring subjects, he also created landscapes and portraits of many illustrious figures (Pope Paul John II, Giorgio de Chirico, Sandro Pertini, Giulio Andreotti, the Prince of Torlonia, Cardinal Michele Giordano of Naples, and Archbishop Guerino Grimaldi of Salerno).

The transaction takes place with maximum security for both the seller and the buyer. We take care of the conformity (provenance, authenticity, state of conservation) of the work and handle the shipping.
Returns are possible no later than 14 days after receiving the order.