Mary Swanzy HRHA (1882-1978)
The Italian Girl
Oil on board, 30 x 25cm (12 x 9¾")
Signed

Provenance: The artist's studio.

 

Mary Swanzy intended to settle in Florence following the death...

Mary Swanzy HRHA (1882-1978)
The Italian Girl
Oil on board, 30 x 25cm (12 x 9¾")
Signed

Provenance: The artist's studio.

 

Mary Swanzy intended to settle in Florence following the death of her father in 1913 however, she was forced to return to Dublin with the outbreak of war.

This painting underlines her constant faith in the old masters, the great men as she called them.

 

The Italian Girl is reminiscent of Vermeers Girl with the Pearl Earring 1665 while also sharing ground with Swanzys contemporary Modigliani (1814-1920). Building on the characteristics typical of Mannerist paintings that elongated figures for emotional effect Swanzy relies on her drawing, outlining the features in her assured line while the modeling of the figure is loose and sketchy in style.

 

The heavier greens at the outer edges of the composition create a dramatic focus for the figure whose gaze is focused away from the viewer not typical of Swanzys portraits. She creates a strong presence with the figure filling the frame using the headdress to balance the composition with its hotspots of pure cadmium yellow generating lights in a very traditional manner. As in all genres of painting Swanzy undertakes, she exacts a personal exploration of style rather than being influenced by any single oeuvre.

 

Liz Cullinane, September 2019

 

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