An Ottone Rosai painting of quiet intensity
Il cancello is an Ottone Rosai painting that finds its subject in an ordinary entrance. A closed brown gate stands between pale walls, while dense foliage rises above it. Glimpses of light appear through the bars, drawing the eye toward the garden beyond.
The composition balances the upright rhythm of the gate with the softer shapes of the trees. Deep greens and blue-gray shadows contrast with the warm brown of the entrance. Meanwhile, the pale foreground gives the scene a sense of space and stillness. The signature, “O. Rosai,” appears in yellow at the lower right.
Date and reverse inscriptions
The Archivio Ottone Rosai dates the work to 1955. The stretcher also bears the inscription “M950” alongside the title Il Cancello. This inscription is recorded separately from the date assigned by the Archive.
Provenance and gallery labels
The reverse retains a notarial label from May 1957, stating that the painting was found in Rosai’s studio on the day of his death. It also carries estate inventory markings recorded as dated October 6, 1962.
Labels from Galleria Santacroce, Florence, and Galleria La Chiocciola, Padua, add further evidence of the painting’s history. These surviving details allow the collector to consider the work alongside its material documentation.
The exhibition history recorded for the painting includes Rosai inedito. Dipinti dell’eredità, Galleria Santacroce, Florence, 1962, with a catalog text by G. Bertolini.
Collecting Il cancello
For collectors of Italian modern painting, Il cancello offers a restrained composition supported by an informative group of reverse labels. This signed Rosai painting rewards close attention to both its painted surface and its documented history.
Contact Egidi MadeinItaly to inquire about this Ottone Rosai painting, including its price, condition, supporting documentation and shipping arrangements.
→ Request information about this work
→ Read the artist’s biography
For further context on Rosai’s art, explore the Ottone Rosai collection at Museo Novecento in Florence.
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