The work “Umile cantuccio” by Flavio Bertelli, dated 1924, represents a significant example of the artist’s late phase, when his painting moved towards a more intimate and synthetic research. In fact, after his beginnings linked to Divisionism, Bertelli progressively evolved towards a more tonal rendering, favouring intimate atmospheres and subjects from everyday life.
In this painting, attention is focused on a simple and modest interior, where a female figure sits beside a lit hearth. However, it is not the narrative that dominates the scene, but rather the relationship between light and pictorial matter. The central light source, represented by the flame, creates a clear contrast with the surrounding shadowed areas, producing an essential yet effective visual balance.
Moreover, the painterly application appears rapid and fragmented, with brushstrokes that suggest rather than describe. Consequently, the space loses detailed definition and becomes an evoked environment, where atmospheric perceptionbecomes the protagonist. At the same time, the human figure is rendered with synthetic strokes, contributing to a sense of intimacy and silence.
Therefore, the work belongs to the tradition of Emilian painting of the early twentieth century, attentive to tonal values and the domestic dimension. Moreover, Bertelli demonstrates a sensibility capable of transforming a humble subject into an image of strong poetic intensity. In conclusion, “Umile cantuccio” highlights how light, matter and compositional simplicity can merge into a coherent and deeply personal vision.
Description: Oil on panel, titled, signed and dated on the reverse ‘Umile cantuccio/Flavio Bertelli/(24), H cm 19×31.
Hammer Price: € 5.952,00
Auction 37 – 16 April 2020 – Paintings – Silver – Furniture – Art Works
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