Fine Art Tuesday

 

A woman confessing her sins to a priest

Giuseppe Molteni was born in Milan, Italy in 1800 and died in Milan in 1867.

His artistic career started out restoring old artwork by earlier, Italian masters.

In 1828 he started painting vanity portraits (think "Selfies") and it proved lucrative. Reputation and economics secured, he switched to scenes of everyday life in 1837.

By was appointed a curator of an Academy in the 1850s and he stopped painting. 

Abandoned or destitute woman. It is likely that she had Tuberculosis which peaked in the mid-1800s in Italy. Note the guard walking away on right side of image.

Chimney sweep

 

Close-up of the chimney-sweeps head.

Notice all of the layers of clothing. Maybe the chimneys were not allowed to fully cool down before the sent the boys in.

A bereaved woman mourning her lost lover