Object Description
Antique Italian Orientalist watercolour of a perfume seller by Alberto Rosati
Italian, Early 20th Century
Paper: Height 54cm, width 37cm
Frame: Height 85cm, width 67cm, depth 8cm
Executed by Alberto Rosati (Italian, 1893–1971), this impressive watercolour ranks among his most elaborate and accomplished Orientalist compositions. Trained in the artistic traditions of his father, Giulio Rosati (1857–1917), Alberto inherited both technical expertise and fascination with Orientalist subject matter. While reflecting his father’s attention to decorative detail and narrative subtlety, he developed a personal approach that balances draughtsmanship with atmospheric depth. Due to their lively palette and vivid storytelling, his works enjoyed widespread recognition across Europe during the early 20th century and became highly sought-after items for collectors.
Titled ‘The Perfume Seller ’, the painting portrays a vendor presenting scents to two carpet weavers—a motif emblematic of Orientalist fantasy. The women’s attentive gazes and gestures draw the viewer toward the richly displayed wares, while a wicker basket at the seller’s side overflows with perfume bottles and oud. Together with the elaborate patterns of the figures’ garments and the opulent designs of the carpets, these elements create a sense of visual abundance. Details such as the man’s pointed footwear and the women’s jewellery underscore Rosati’s meticulous observation of costume, posture, and narrative nuance, continuing Giulio Rosati’s legacy with refinement and subtlety.
The composition extends beyond the central figures to reveal marble-paved streets filled with animated passersby, framed by the slender minarets of distant mosques. The setting enhances the painting’s immersive quality: one can almost smell the perfumes, touch the texture of the textiles, and hear the quiet stirrings of the city beyond the arches. By evoking the senses, Rosati has immersed the viewer within the scene and invited them to wander through its streets.
The paper is signed in the lower left ‘Alberto Rosati’. The giltwood frame, is signed ‘Vendors de Perfume. / By A. Rosati’, and the reverse includes an old retailer’s label.
This watercolour showcases Rosati’s mastery of colour, detail, and narrative. Its vibrant palette, intricate composition, and refined craftsmanship make it a distinguished example of early 20th-century Orientalist art and a notable addition to any collection.