Object Description
‘Regina dei Fiori’ by Frédéric Soulacroix (1858-1933). The painting – which depicts an aristocratic Italian beauty sitting beside a porcelain vase full of peonies – is signed by the artist and presented in a superb quality hand-carved giltwood frame.
In ancient Chinese culture the peony symbolizes love and beauty (as well as wealth and aristocracy). Soulacroix’s colour choice for both the flowers and her luxurious silk gown also references Oriental symbolism; the apricot traditionally representing female elegance.
All our paintings are offered in the finest condition they can be for their age having been newly professionally cleaned, conserved and re-varnished. Clients should also note that tracked and signed for international shipping is complimentary.
The son of the eminent French sculptor Charles Soulacroix (1825-1899), Frédéric Soulacroix was born in Rome in 1858. Aged 15 he began studying at the Accademia di Belle Arte in Florence and afterwards at the Scuola di Pittura in 1876. This was an auspicious time to be an artist working in Florence which, by the 1880s, had become the cultural capital of Italy. Like his contemporaries Vittorio Reggianini (1858-1938) and Arturo Ricci (1854-1919), Frédéric Soulacroix’s skilfully executed subject pictures of elegant 18th century beauties became very fashionable and were enthusiastically bought by the city’s wealthy art patrons.
In the 1890s Soulacroix was commissioned by King Umberto of Italy to paint his wife Queen Margherita and by the 1920s his popularity across Europe and North America was such that he was named a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur and awarded the Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French government.
Dimensions: (framed) 93cm x 73cm (36½” x 28¾”)
Dimensions: (canvas only) 62cm x 42cm (24½” x 16½”)
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Presentation: Superb quality hand-carved giltwood frame.
Condition: Very good. Newly professionally cleaned, restored, and re-varnished. Ready to hang.