Woman in a Hat and Undergarments

Location

Country: Other
City: other locations abroad

This risqué, late Victorian painting shows a young woman in her bedroom, having removed her black satin dress to reveal her undergarments. Remarkably she still wears her hat and her and the shoulder strap of her bodice is decorated with wild flowers. The lace of her undergarments and the decorated fabric covering the bed are skilfully painted. The woman pulls on the pearls around her neck and a pale pink rose rests on the pillows beside her.

Ernesto Fontana was born in Milan and was a pupil of Francesco Hayez and Giuseppe Bertini. He began his career painting historical subjects and later produced romanticised images of women, before working as an illustrator for the publications ‘L’Illustration Italiana’ and ‘L’Illustration Universal’. Fontana was also commissioned to paint frescoes and ceiling designs for villas and churches. Some survive today, including those at Villa Erba and Villa Olmo, both on Lake Como. Perhaps his best works are portraits of his contemporaries, including those of Leo Delibes (1836-1891) and Jules Emile Massenet (1842-1912). Fontana exhibited in both Italy and Switzerland. During the last years of his life he lived in Cureglia, Switzerland.

Places

Subjects

female portrait

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Ernesto Fontana (1837 - 1918)

Title

Woman in a Hat and Undergarments

Date

c.1880-1890

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 117.00 cm, width: 91.00 cm

Acquisition

Origin uncertain

Inscription

br: Er.sto Fontana

GAC number

18235