(Milan 1848 - 1895)
LO SPACCALEGNA, ca 1880
The etching, unsigned, is very rare. It reproduces, in reverse, the painting by Dell'Orto Vecchio Contadino (ca 1880). For the painting see F. Monteforte, Uberto Dell'Orto e il Realismo Lombardo del secondo Ottocento, Rome 1992; colour illustration no. 20. Mezzetti, at no. 300 of her catalogue, mentions, with the title Lo spaccalegna, an impression in the Ambrosiana Library, but with different dimensions. This specimen is not present today in the Library. However, an example of the etching is reproduced in the monograph dedicated to Dell'orto in 1921 by R. Calzini.
Fine impression on thick white wove paper, in very good condition, 171 x 114 mm.
Sold to the Civica Raccolta delle Stampe A. Bertarelli, Milan
Uberto Dell’Orto was born and died in Milan. He was initially trained as an engineer, then learned art under Giovanni Battista Lelli, a landscape painter, and Eleuterio Pagliano. He was also influenced by Filippo Carcano. In his figure paintings the main influence was that of the Milanese Scapigliatura. Dell'Orto was also an accomplished draughtsman and etcher.
The years from 80 to 90 were the most productive for the artist, who participated with numerous paintings in the exhibitions of Brera and those of the Permanente. Then he fell ill and a few years later, just forty-seven, he died.
