Nana by M. Lovatti (Italian, fl. late 19th c.), c.1888 photo-etching, 11.5×17 in (image 8×12), signed in plate, Art Treasures of Italy.
This rare 1888 Italian photo-etching titled Nana by M. Lovatti captures Belle Époque elegance and modern leisure, published by the Fine Art Publishing Company as part of the landmark volume Art Treasures of Italy, showcasing late 19th-century academic realism and refined genre painting.
Artwork Description
Nana is a richly toned photo-etching reproduction of a late 19th-century Italian genre painting by M. Lovatti. The composition depicts a fashionable young woman seated in a carriage at what appears to be a racetrack or promenade, surrounded by motion, horses, and spectators. Her poised gaze, luxurious attire, and subtle confidence embody Belle Époque ideals of femininity, modernity, and social display.
The work was reproduced using the photo-etching process, a cutting-edge late-19th-century technique that allowed painters’ tonal subtleties and brushwork to be translated into print with remarkable fidelity. The plate is titled Nana and bears the artist’s name printed in the plate, as issued. The artwork was published in 1888 within Art Treasures of Italy, a major scholarly publication intended to introduce European masterworks to American collectors and institutions.
Lovatti’s subject reflects the era’s fascination with contemporary life, fashion, and the psychology of modern women—subjects aligned with both Italian academic realism and broader European Belle Époque culture. The image balances narrative elegance with technical refinement, making it a compelling example of period genre art.
Artist Biography – M. Lovatti
M. Lovatti was an Italian painter active during the second half of the 19th century, working within the academic and genre traditions prevalent in post-Unification Italy. While comprehensive biographical documentation on Lovatti remains limited—a common circumstance for academically trained but non-avant-garde painters—his inclusion in authoritative international publications confirms his professional standing.
Lovatti likely trained within the Italian академic system, influenced by realist traditions, French academic painting, and contemporary genre scenes depicting modern leisure and society. His work reflects careful draftsmanship, attention to costume and gesture, and an interest in character portrayal rather than overt symbolism.
Artists of Lovatti’s circle often exhibited in regional Italian exhibitions and contributed works to private collections that later entered scholarly publications. Nana represents Lovatti’s engagement with fashionable modern subjects and the emerging depiction of women as autonomous figures within public social spaces. The painting’s reproduction in Art Treasures of Italy positioned Lovatti among recognized Italian painters whose works were deemed representative of national artistic achievement.
M. Lovatti (Italian, fl. late 19th century), Nana, c.1888 photo-etching after the original painting, published in Art Treasures of Italy, sheet 11.5 × 17 in, image 8 × 12 in.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
Artist: M. Lovatti (Italian, fl. late 19th century)
Title:Nana
Medium: Photo-etching on paper
Date: c.1888
Publication:Art Treasures of Italy, Fine Art Publishing Company, Boston
Dimensions: Sheet 11.5 × 17 in | Image 8 × 12 in
Authentication: Period photo-etching, published example verified
Condition: Antique original plate
Certified by: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Provenance (Collector Format)
Private European Holdings
→ Acquired in Europe and New York City
→ Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, NY
→ Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (Current Owner)
Citations
Art Treasures of Italy, Carl von Lützow, Fine Art Publishing Company, Boston, 1888
Clara Erskine Clement, editorial archives on Italian academic painters
Bénézit Dictionary of Artists, Éditions Gründ
Grove Art Online, Oxford University Press
Nana by M. Lovatti (Italian, fl. late 19th c.), c.1888 photo-etching, 11.5×17 in (image 8×12), signed in plate, Art Treasures of Italy.
This rare 1888 Italian photo-etching titled Nana by M. Lovatti captures Belle Époque elegance and modern leisure, published by the Fine Art Publishing Company as part of the landmark volume Art Treasures of Italy, showcasing late 19th-century academic realism and refined genre painting.
Artwork Description
Nana is a richly toned photo-etching reproduction of a late 19th-century Italian genre painting by M. Lovatti. The composition depicts a fashionable young woman seated in a carriage at what appears to be a racetrack or promenade, surrounded by motion, horses, and spectators. Her poised gaze, luxurious attire, and subtle confidence embody Belle Époque ideals of femininity, modernity, and social display.
The work was reproduced using the photo-etching process, a cutting-edge late-19th-century technique that allowed painters’ tonal subtleties and brushwork to be translated into print with remarkable fidelity. The plate is titled Nana and bears the artist’s name printed in the plate, as issued. The artwork was published in 1888 within Art Treasures of Italy, a major scholarly publication intended to introduce European masterworks to American collectors and institutions.
Lovatti’s subject reflects the era’s fascination with contemporary life, fashion, and the psychology of modern women—subjects aligned with both Italian academic realism and broader European Belle Époque culture. The image balances narrative elegance with technical refinement, making it a compelling example of period genre art.
Artist Biography – M. Lovatti
M. Lovatti was an Italian painter active during the second half of the 19th century, working within the academic and genre traditions prevalent in post-Unification Italy. While comprehensive biographical documentation on Lovatti remains limited—a common circumstance for academically trained but non-avant-garde painters—his inclusion in authoritative international publications confirms his professional standing.
Lovatti likely trained within the Italian академic system, influenced by realist traditions, French academic painting, and contemporary genre scenes depicting modern leisure and society. His work reflects careful draftsmanship, attention to costume and gesture, and an interest in character portrayal rather than overt symbolism.
Artists of Lovatti’s circle often exhibited in regional Italian exhibitions and contributed works to private collections that later entered scholarly publications. Nana represents Lovatti’s engagement with fashionable modern subjects and the emerging depiction of women as autonomous figures within public social spaces. The painting’s reproduction in Art Treasures of Italy positioned Lovatti among recognized Italian painters whose works were deemed representative of national artistic achievement.
M. Lovatti (Italian, fl. late 19th century), Nana, c.1888 photo-etching after the original painting, published in Art Treasures of Italy, sheet 11.5 × 17 in, image 8 × 12 in.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
Artist: M. Lovatti (Italian, fl. late 19th century)
Title:Nana
Medium: Photo-etching on paper
Date: c.1888
Publication:Art Treasures of Italy, Fine Art Publishing Company, Boston
Dimensions: Sheet 11.5 × 17 in | Image 8 × 12 in
Authentication: Period photo-etching, published example verified
Condition: Antique original plate
Certified by: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
Provenance (Collector Format)
Private European Holdings
→ Acquired in Europe and New York City
→ Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, NY
→ Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (Current Owner)
Citations
Art Treasures of Italy, Carl von Lützow, Fine Art Publishing Company, Boston, 1888
Clara Erskine Clement, editorial archives on Italian academic painters
Bénézit Dictionary of Artists, Éditions Gründ
Grove Art Online, Oxford University Press
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